Grace Ostrus Scholarship Fund

The Grace Ostrus Scholarship was established to provide scholarship awards for West Valley college students ages 18-24 who are highly motivated and determined to succeed in college despite financial and personal challenges.

Grace was born in 1927 to Cecil Albert Bennett and Jennie Lakanen Bennett in Waukegan, Illinois. Grace has a younger brother. Her father worked in a factory and her mother was a stay-at-home mother, who was bilingual and spoke both Finnish and English.

The family eventually moved to South Bend, Indiana. Grace graduated from Washington-Clay High School where she was a finalist for salutatorian. After graduation she worked in government administration.

At twenty-seven years old, Grace moved to Southern California and worked for Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. and Aerospace Corporation in administration. Grace was drawn to Northern California for the clean air and a healthier environment. She moved to Palo Alto and began working for Hewlett-Packard. Grace remained in executive secretarial positions through the remainder of her career and attended West Valley College to support her career and personal growth. Grace regretted the fact that she had not had the opportunity to pursue a college degree, so she established a scholarship program to help young people obtain college educations.

The Grace Ostrus Scholar Partner Program and Ostrus Music Scholar Program are tangible incentives she is offering to bright young students, encouraging them to stay in school and complete their educations and vocational training.

Grace married Dr. Donald Ostrus on October 7, 1995 and lives happily in Los Altos, California. Grace is an avid traveler and she enjoys gardening and golf. Grace keeps in touch with her former scholar students.

Grace stated that, without having a college education and children of my own, I am living vicariously through my scholarship recipients as they progress with their personal and academic achievements.