Forty-one Kern County students were recipients of scholarships ranging in amounts from $1,000 to $4,000 awarded at the Southern San Joaquin Valley Cal-SOAP Scholarship Program banquet on June 11 at Hodel’s Country Dining in Bakersfield. Approximately $120,000 was made available from the Cal-SOAP/Kern County Scholarship fund. Scholarship funding was made possible by the College Access Foundation of California. More than 300 students began applying for the scholarships on Feb. 1. Eligible Kern County high school seniors had to demonstrate financial need and meet grade point average requirements. Cal-SOAP administrators and numerous high school and college counselors read through the applications, which included an essay portion, to determine the recipients. Students continuing their education in Kern County received $1,000 to attend either Bakersfield College or California State University, Bakersfield. Others, attending California State Universities out of the county, received $2,500. Those attending University of California campuses got $3,000 scholarships and others attending private or out of state universities were honored with $4,000 in funding. More