Dolores Gonzales Memorial Scholarship Endowment

Established in 2007 as a legacy to Dee's memory, to provide a perpetual scholarship award to a deserving single parent who is continuing his or her education and possibly facing some of the struggles Dee faced.

Dolores Gonzales was born June 10, 1961 in Hollister, California. She was the third of ten children born to Manuel E. and Maria Elena Gonzales. On June 5, 2005, she died the victim of a brutal domestic violence homicide. Her funeral services were held on what would have been her 44th birthday. She left behind her parents, two children, six sisters, three brothers, 18 nieces and nephews, and two grandnieces.

"Dee" as she was affectionately known, attended Sacred Heart Catholic School from grades 1-4. She celebrated when she attended public school having the opportunity to wear her infamous white "go-go" boots and purple "hot pants." She attended San Benito Joint Union High School from 1975-1979, where she played the flute and piccolo, for the Baler Marching Band. She loved sports, played softball, and enjoyed watching professional tennis. She enjoyed all things "Streisand," both music and film.

After graduating from high school, Dee had her first child, Christie Michelle Gonzales.

She worked at San Benito County Free Library as a Library Aid, and raised Christie on her own, wanting to provide the best for her child.

From 1981 thru 1984, Dee worked for the Santa Clara Office of Education, as a Clerk in Media Lab. In 1984, she began working at Mission College - a community that we tenderly called her second family. Over the course of 21 years, she worked her way up to the position of Administrative Specialist in the Personnel Dept. She found her niche, professionally matured and came in to her own.

While employed at Mission College, Dee was very active in SEIU, where she served as negotiator, E-board delegate, Vice President and shop steward for the union. Dee loved her colleagues at Mission, and we know that they all loved her in return.

As a single mother, Dee experienced many of the struggles that a single parent faces. She knew the value of education and urged Christie to continue her own.

While raising Christie, Dee was able to learn from life's many lessons and used that knowledge in raising her second child. In 2003, twenty-four years after the birth of her first child, Dee gave birth to her son, Daniel Manuel Gonzales.

She had hoped that one day, she would have the opportunity to improve her own education, but she selflessly gave herself to other causes, neglecting the needs of her own.

This scholarship was created not only for the family's hope of keeping Dee's memory alive but to honor her Mission College Family and colleagues for all the support they gave her while she was alive and for all the support and love they have shown our family following her untimely death. It is our family's privilege to award this perpetual scholarship as a legacy to Dee's memory to a deserving single parent who is continuing his or her education and possibly facing some of the struggles Dee faced.