The Heights Online - Front Page

Visionary Couple Make Health Care Careers Possible for Foothill Students

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Nearly 200 Foothill students owe a debt of gratitude to a Los Altos couple whom they will never meet. Though now deceased, Lola and Steve Kaider had the vision to provide scholarships for students who want a rewarding job in health care and have returned to school to get the job training required for today’s health care careers.

Recipients of the Kaider Scholarship use the award to offset expenses associated with returning to school, such as textbooks, tuition, child care, supplies and transportation. The monetary award reduces the number of hours a student must work at a full- or part-time job and enables the student to concentrate on studying and completing comprehensive career training.

Kaider Scholarship Committee Chairwoman Kathleen Austin, who is also director of the Foothill Ultrasound Technology Program, expects 160 students to apply for the award this year. Last year, 105 Kaider scholarships were awarded to Foothill students with an average award amount of $1,500. One Foothill applicant is also chosen annually to receive the President’s Award and a $5,000 scholarship.
This year, Foothill College Dental Assisting student Alicia Covarrubias was the recipient of both a Kaider scholarship and the President’s Award. "I’m so grateful to the Kaider Foundation. I will use this money to offset living expenses so that I can concentrate on my education. One day, I’d like to return this generosity by donating money I earn from my rewarding job as a dental health professional to help another student achieve her career goals."

“As America ages—especially Baby Boomers—the demand for trained health career professionals will only increase,” Austin says. “People like the Kaider family recognize the critical need for creating opportunities for students. It’s my hope that more members of our community will recognize students as a valuable resource and support their education by offering awards similar to the Kaider scholarships.”

To create a new scholarship or contribute to an existing award, call (650) 949-6230.
For health careers information, access www.foothillcollege.org or call (650) 949-7249.

New Program

Help Seniors Get Fit

Foothill debuts its new Adult Health & Development Program this quarter. Designed for students who are interested in gerontology, recreation, physical fitness and health-related fields, the program emphasizes intergenerational health education and physical activity. In addition to receiving leadership training, students learn to administer standardized fitness assessments to seniors in our community. The program is also an excellent service learning activity.

For program information, call (650) 949-7321. For registration instructions, access www.foothillcollege.org or call (650) 949-7325.