CYO Scholarships in the Diocese of Oakland

The Bill Ford Scholarship Awards are awarded each spring to three current 8th grade CYO players  to aid in their education.  The scholarships are named after long-time CYO director Bill Ford. The Bill Ford Scholarship Awards are funded by a grant from local foundation.

The Marty Mart Scholarship Award is awarded each January to an eighth grade girls' CYO volleyball player. This scholarship is named in honor of Marty Mart, longtime CYO Associate Director, who passed away in December 2002. Marty was active for many years in the CYO program and, at the time of his passing, was coaching Girls’ CYO Volleyball. In his honor, a scholarship is awarded and is funded by the girls' CYO volleyball program.

These scholarships are not awarded on the basis of skill in sports, but on the candidate’s participation in CYO, in understanding sportsmanship, and by exhibiting the Christian values that are goals of CYO. The scholarship is awarded to aid the athlete in continuing education in high school. Both Catholic school and public school students are encouraged to apply.

Applications, requirements and more information will be posted on this page when announced.

The three 2021 scholardship awardees have been selected by the CYO Scholarship Committee.  Although CYO was not active during the pandemic, the awardees were eighth graders who played CYO during their seventh grades years.
They each played in different sports and leagues, but shared a common bond of "spirtuality, service and sportsmanship!

Raul Barretero, Jr. played CYO Basketball and Boys’ Sand Volleyball. He attended St. Elizabeth School and will be enrolling in St. Joseph Notre Dame in the fall.
He wrote: "The thing I love about CYO is that you never feel left out. You are always being cheered on and nobody feels any less. You are always with a group of friends/teammates and you guys are one big family. I used to practice on Mondays and Wednesdays. I always loved to be at the gym with my teammates."
 
Samantha Galindo played CYO Volleyball and Basketball. She was a former Assumption school student, then at Bancroft Junior High and enrolling in San Leandro High in the fall.
She wrote: "Hello, my name is Samantha and I’m going to explain how volleyball has changed my life for the better. I keep to myself and making friends is scary and intimidating for me.  Playing volleyball has made me feel a part of something and find my voice on the court and in daily life."
 
Apollo Regacho played CYO Basketball and Boys' Sand Volleyball. He attended All Saints School and is enrolling in Bishop O’Dowd in the fall.
He wrote: "I believe my years of participation in CYO activities were a great complement to my Catholic Faith and academics here at All Saints Catholic school. Many valuable lessons were learned that also helped shape my personality such as how to be a leader, to handle adversity, self-discipline, time management, trust and much more. ...I learned that when you put God first, things sort of come together or work our, maybe not right away but eventually."

Due to the pandemic, the awards were presented in a local Hayward park, photos to the right:
Top photo: L-R Apollo, Raul and Samantha
Center photo: Awardees with  CYO Scholarship Committee members Mark Lima, Victoria Mart-Larson and Jim Soltau
Bottom photo: Awardees with family members.

Catholic Youth Organization
Diocese of Oakland

2121 Harrison Street , Oakland CA 94612

bfordoakdiocese.org