The Ventura County Community Foundation has awarded more than $600,000 in scholarships to 217 local students as part of its annual scholarship program. The dollar amount of scholarships awarded this year represents a doubling from just a year ago, as well as an expansion of several key initiatives.

“None of this would be possible without the many donors here in Ventura County who established funds with the express purpose of staking the next generation to a better future,” said Mary Leavens Schwabauer, chair of the foundation’s board and the scholarship advisory.

“We are thrilled to be able to help so many deserving students pursue their dreams of obtaining a college education,” said Schwabauer.

Of note this year is the expansion of the James Basile Scholarships, due to the $6-million bequest of Simi Valley attorney James Basile. The Basile Scholarships are providing $20,000 awards to 15 students, a significant increase from prior years.

Following are this year’s local scholarship winners.

Newbury Park recipients of a $1,200 William A. Fairburn Jr. and Cynthia D. Fairburn Memorial Scholarship are Marella Martin, Ryan J. Donahue, Rachel M. Golombeck, Kristen Onsgard and Corbin Walker.

Thousand Oaks students awarded a $1,200 William A. Fairburn Jr. and Cynthia D. Fairburn Memorial Scholarship were Amanda Buescher, Lauren Baize, Jessica L. Bennett, Shalra Hameed, Tiffany Hsiou, Irene (Han) Li, Lydia Lo, May M. Lou, Barbara Mazina, Jordan Michaels, Maria Pesquiera, Catherine Ricafort, Laurent Russell and Tejasvi Vishwanadha, who also received a $1,000 SAME Engineer/ Architect Memorial Scholarship.

Camille Mathewson and Judy Miyaro of Thousand Oaks each received a $1,500 TEACH Scholarship.

Alexandra Klokova and Daria Klokova of Thousand Oaks were each awarded a $2,000 Orfalea Nursing Scholarship Award.

Other Thousand Oaks winners were Erin Dieterle, $1,000 Delta Kappa Gamma Recruitment Grant Scholarship; Kristin B. Burns, $500 Gerhardt Family Scholarship and Hsuan-Wen Chang, $500 Gerhardt Family Scholarship.

Shalra Hameed and Jordan Michaels of Westlake Village each received a $1,200 William A. Fairburn Jr. and Cynthia D. Fairburn Memorial Scholarship. Ira Clary, Jr., Christopher Conant and Kristopher Cronin of Westlake Village were awarded each a $2,200 Roy A. Gustafson Memorial Scholarship.

Other winners from Westlake Village were Daniel Agarwal, $1,000 Gary W. Chism Memorial Scholarship and Tyffany Chen, $1,500 Sage Scholarship.

The Ventura County Community Foundation is a family of charitable funds created in 1987 by citizens who cared about strengthening the community, preserving and expanding its cultural resources, and helping those in need.

The foundation has over $12.8 million in endowed funds for scholarships and student-related programs.

To volunteer, contribute to the general scholarship fund, or want more information on starting a scholarship fund, please call (805) 988-0196 or visit www.vccf.org.