IN THE NEWS.…

2024-2025 OMEGA NU BOARD ANNOUNCED

Omega Nu announced its new board members for 2024 - 2025 at the last meeting of the year in June 2024 at Stockwell Cellars. The new board includes Michele Costa (President), April Lambert (Parliamentarian), Marianne Lin (Vice President), Gillian Westbrook (Treasurer), Sandy Connolly (Scholarship Chair), Stephanie Lusk Muccia (Charity Chair), Tiffany Verbica (Publicity Chair), Kate Deaver (Recording Secretary), Jackie Becker (Corresponding Secretary), and Tamera Smith (Guard).

$99,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

Omega Nu Santa Cruz awarded college and vocational scholarships to 31 students from Santa Cruz County high schools during a Scholarship Reception for the students and their families at the Harvey West Park Clubhouse on May 28th. Over pizza, fresh fruit and home baked cookies, students introduced themselves and shared the school they will be attending plus their plans for their studies in the fall. Omega Nu scholarships benefit high school seniors who will attend public California universities, colleges, or vocational schools and are based on both financial need and scholastic achievement. This year $99,000 was awarded to both new and renewal scholarships.

The 31 new scholarships were awarded to: Ben Ford, Vincent Gomez, Ainsley Hancock, Vivian Macias-Rodriguez, Leyla Martinez, Karen Navarro-Cadena, Eric Josh Nolasco, and Jack Taylor of Aptos High School; Faith Eppard and Bella Manoff of Cabrillo Community College; Josalyn Wilkerson of Delta High School; Claudia Barrientos and Karen Gabriel-Miranda of Harbor High School; Alexander Luckow of Pacific Coast High School; Victoria Choi, Matteo DeMarco, Grace Li, Ava Lord, Vanessa Marroquin-Guzman, Chanya Nguyen, Thalia Pressman-Zeind, Gisselle Venegas-Perry and Antonia Wilson of Santa Cruz High; Aliyah Bowers, Miles Hoognar, Maya McGivney, and Kai Wildberger of San Lorenzo Valley High School; Monica Nunez, Kayla Rhee Pizano, and Nola Salazar of Soquel High School; and Bali Welch of Scotts Valley High School.

We are thrilled to be able to help so many Santa Cruz students achieve their goal of higher education!

A WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION WITH A HISTORY

Omega Nu has 11 Northern California based chapters, each of which serves its own community through charity and service. The Santa Cruz Chapter of Omega Nu was established on April 4, 1903. Today, it is an entirely volunteer group of more than 40 women that hosts annual fund raisers to benefit the community, as well as helping others in need through community service. 100% of the proceeds from these events go directly back to the Santa Cruz community.

click the video below to watch our 2024 virtual race

And make sure to join us at the 35th annual Ducky Derby held at Harvey West Park on April 25, 2025.

From one of our charity recipients….

From the new nonprofit, Damian’s Ladder….

Year after year, the dedicated efforts of Omega Nu of Santa Cruz continue to make a tremendous difference in the lives of people, as well help further the work of other nonprofits in our Santa Cruz County community. This year, Omega Nu has done an even stellar job considering the curveball they were presented with at the 11th hour, and having to transform their event into a virtual one! A big hand to you indomitable ladies of Omega Nu🙏🏽👏🏼♥️🙌🏼🙏🏽

 CHARITY GRANTS 

The Santa Cruz Chapter of Omega Nu strives to meet the charitable needs of the local community. Since the first charity grant was made following the 1906 earthquake, Omega Nu has given over two million dollars to individuals, families and organizations in need. Total charitable contributions are in excess of three hundred thousand dollars over the last 5 years.

If you would like Omega Nu to consider your Charity Organization for a financial donation, please contact us by email at omeganusc@gmail.com

Here’s what some of our community partners are saying about Omega Nu:

“Although 2021 has been another tough year for kids and families, there are many positive moments and memories to celebrate, thanks to friends like you. Thank you for turning tough times into great moments for the kids in our community.”

~ Bob Langseth, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz

Omega Nu is having a tremendous impact on ending homelessness right here in Santa Cruz County. Your generosity inspires encouragement and hope for our most vulnerable neighbors.”

~ Phil Kramer, Chief Executive Officer, Housing Matters

Charity Giving in Our Community

Charity is generally funded in two cycles:

• Requests for the November funding cycle must be postmarked no later than October 15th of each year

• Requests for the April funding cycle must be postmarked no later than March 15th each year

Our current deadline for submitting a Charity Grant request is March 15, 2025

Groups, families or individuals in need may apply in writing via email to omeganusc@gmail.com or by mail to:

Omega Nu of Santa Cruz
P.O. Box 1696
Santa Cruz, CA 95061

Please include a request for specific items, their costs and the name, phone number and address of a contact person. Omega Nu provides for a variety of needs but does not pay salaries.

All organizations applying for charity must submit a current financial statement and/or project budget. Organizational grants are not to exceed $2,000 for a one- year period. Special circumstances may be considered.

FUNDS FOR FUNDAMENTALS

In 2005 our organization created Funds for Fundamentals to help public school teachers with classroom expenses. Over $300,000 has been given to 20 public elementary and 7 public middle schools since the program began.

Thousands of teachers have received FUNDS during the life of this program.  Funds for Fundamentals is now so popular that the public elementary schools had to be divided between two years.  The grants have benefited thousands of school children in northern Santa Cruz County. 

There is a three year rotation of the public schools receiving FFF, between all of the public middle schools and elementary schools in Santa Cruz County.

• The Santa Cruz County elementary schools that are eligible for awards in the Fall of 2024 are: Bay View, Bonny Doon, Brook Knoll, Del Mar, Live Oak, Main Street, San Lorenzo Valley, Rio Del Mar, and Westlake.

• Elementary schools eligible for rewards in the Fall of 2025 will be: Boulder Creek, DeLaveaga, Gault, Green Acres, Mar Vista, Pacific, Santa Cruz Gardens, Soquel, Valencia, and Vine Hill.

• Middle schools eligible in the Fall of 2026 will be: Aptos, Branciforte, Mission Hill, New Brighton, San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley, and Shoreline.

Teachers from elementary schools listed above for Fall 2024 are eligible to apply for a grant this year. Applications are available online NOW and the last day to complete an application is Friday, November 22nd, 2024

For more information or questions please email us at omeganuscfff@gmail.com

Creating Opportunity. Ensuring Success

The Omega Nu Scholarship program is one of the largest in Santa Cruz County. The program was established in 1957 to assist qualified students who are planning to attend public California universities or colleges. These scholarships are based on financial need and scholastic achievement. Over the past six years over $600,000 has been awarded to local high school and college students. The amount awarded each year is dependent on the proceeds from the annual Omega Nu fundraisers as well as our endowment portfolio. The eligibility and general requirements are listed below. In 2024 $99,600 was awarded in new and renewal scholarships to students in the County of Santa Cruz.  

For more information email omeganuscscholarships@gmail.com or contact your local high school or Cabrillo counseling offices.

NEW SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

High School Seniors currently enrolled at Aptos, Harbor, Santa Cruz, Soquel, San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz Charter Schools

Cabrillo College Students who are graduates of the above local high schools and will be transferring to a UC or CSU in the Fall

General Requirements

For high school seniors applying for a California Community College or California State College/University Scholarship, an overall GPA of 3.2, and/or college potential as recommended by a counselor

For Cabrillo students applying for a California State College/University Scholarship, an overall GPA of 3.0

For high school seniors applying for a Vocational Scholarship, good academic standing

Students must be in need of financial assistance

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are available in early February and from the following high school and college counseling offices:

• Aptos

• Harbor

• Santa Cruz

• Soquel

• San Lorenzo Valley

• Scotts Valley

• Santa Cruz Charter Schools

• Cabrillo College (online only)

Applications need to be completed, electronically or manually, and emailed to omeganuscscholarships@gmail.com, along with any supporting documentation. Applications can also be mailed to: PO Box 1696, Santa Cruz, CA 95061.

Application Deadline: Completed applications must be received, or postmarked if mailed, by March 26th, 2025. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS for applications received after this date.

Selection Process:  The Scholarship Committee pre-screens all applicants and schedules interviews for the top applicants on April 30th and May 3rd. 

Date of Awards: Scholarship recipients will be notified the week of May 5th.

RENEWAL APPLICATIONS

If you are a current scholarship recipient and would like to apply for a renewal scholarship for the upcoming year, please click here for an updated application. Completed applications are due March 26th, 2025.

DUCKY DERBY 2025

The 35th annual Ducky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, April 26th at Friendship Gardens in Harvey West Park. See you there!