FONTANA, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2010) — NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and 2010 Chase contender, Kevin Harvick, announced today the newly formed Kevin Harvick Foundation will fund a full academic scholarship to one California State University, Bakersfield student-athlete per year for the next 12 years. Harvick made the $151,200 award presentation at a press conference at Auto Club Speedway in advance of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, scheduled for Sunday.
The scholarship was established as a way for Harvick to give back to his hometown community, Kern County, and support higher education, both of which are very important to him.
“By providing this scholarship fund, DeLana and I will enable students to follow their dreams to get an undergraduate degree and participate in athletics at the collegiate level,” said Harvick.
To be eligible for the scholarship, a recipient must be a student-athlete at CSUB, a resident of Kern County and exhibit financial need.
The inaugural recipient of the scholarship is CSUB sophomore and volleyball player, Lauren Holderman, who was at the track to accept the award.
A 2009 graduate of Bakersfield High School, Holderman was all-league MVP for two consecutive years and was crowned Bakersfield’s 2009 all-area player of the year. Holderman is majoring in sociology at CSUB where she maintained a 3.35 GPA during her freshmen year. She is also a coach for Bakersfield Club Jamba.
“I’m so grateful for this scholarship,” said Holderman. “About five years ago my mother became an unemployed parent trying to raise three teenagers. I worried my whole high school career about getting scholarships so my parents would never have to worry about having enough money to get me though school. I hope that one day I will be able to give back to all the people that helped me succeed through school, volleyball, and my career after college.”
For more information about the Kevin Harvick Foundation, please visit kevinharvickfoundation.org.
About the Kevin Harvick Foundation:
Established in 2010 by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and his wife, DeLana, the mission of the Kevin Harvick Foundation (KHF) is to support programs that positively enrich the lives of children throughout the United States. The foundation works to not only improve the quality of life, but to help underprivileged youth find and realize their dreams by supporting programs such as the Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship Fund at California State University, Bakersfield, a camper cabin at Victory Junction, Baptist Children’s Homes of NC, Boys & Girls Clubs and Kevin’s Krew.