Gloria Linda de Jesus Memorial Scholarship

The purpose of this scholarship is to support Southwestern College students pursuing a career in Horticulture, Landscape & Nursery Technology (or related areas). Qualified students must be carrying a minimum of 6 units per semester, have a minimum GPA of 2.8, and demonstrate financial need, as determined by a FAFSA or Dream Act Application. Essay question required.

Gloria Linda de Jesus was born in Monterey, CA, on April 1, 1989, and passed away in Chula Vista, CA, on June 24, 2020. At Southwestern College, Gloria was very active in Associated Student Organization (ASO) affairs, being Secretary, VP and Co-President of the Abilities Beyond Limitation through Education (ABLE) Club; and earned the ASO VP for Club Affairs Award in 2017; the Inter-Club Council Representative of the Year for 2018; and ASO Senator of the Year for 2019.

Gloria loved working as a student intern, and volunteering in the South Bay Botanic Garden (SBBG) from 2012-2019, and earned an Associate of Science degree in Nursery Occupations: Retail Nursery/Plant Production from Southwestern College, in May 2019.

Gloria helped create a promotional video for the SBBG describing her work in the Garden and encouraging SWC students to explore and appreciate the hidden jewel on campus that is the SBBG. Gloria’s love for nature and the outdoors, and the SBBG in particular, is the inspiration for the establishment of the Gloria Linda de Jesus Memorial Scholarship Non-Endowed Fund. It is her family’s earnest hope that Gloria’s legacy lives on in the future Horticulture, Landscape, and Nursery Technology students who will, in turn, beautify the neighborhoods we all live in.

Whenever you see beautiful flowers, a garden walk that invites you down a lovely path, a stately tree that invites you to its shade, or a humble vegetable garden that offers its fruits and vegetables for you to enjoy, you will understand how Gloria loved all these quiet places, and sought the tranquility and peace found there.

As Gloria would say, “Magandang Buhay sa inyong lahat! A beautiful life to you all!”