WATSONVILLE — To honor Hal Hyde’s dedication to education over the years, the Freedom Rotary Club established a scholarship in his name.
The inaugural Hal Hyde Scholarship was awarded during a recent ceremony to senior Liszette Gonzalez, who graduated from Pajaro Valley High School on June 7.
“I’m very honored to have my name on this scholarship,” Hyde said. “It represents two of my strong interests: higher education and our local Rotary clubs.”
Hyde, a member of the Watsonville Rotary Club since 1947, helped found UC Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College, the UCSC Arboretum, the Community Foundation and the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County.
Gonzalez will be attending San Jose State, and plans on becoming either a surgeon or an engineer. She served as student body president at Pajaro Valley High School and is a past participant in the Watsonville Ivy League Project.
Hyde’s daughter Marilyn Hyde attended the scholarship ceremony for her father, who was unable to attend.
“I was very happy to represent my father at Pajaro Valley High School’s Award Night,” she said. “The honored graduating students worked hard to receive scholarships and recognition. The support for higher education was very exciting and I’m sorry my father couldn’t attend the event.”
