Spending a summer working at the Boardwalk has become a cultural rite of passage within our Santa Cruz community. It’s not uncommon to hear people around town say, “My mom used to work at the Boardwalk!” or “I worked on the Rides team, just like my dad did when he was in high school!” or to hear new team members say that their older siblings worked at the Boardwalk and now it’s their turn. For many people in our community, working at the Boardwalk is a perfect first job—an introduction to the workforce. Team members working at the Boardwalk often find that the flexible hours, growth opportunities, and company perks make for a great employment option while they are going to school or pursuing higher education. For some those first, seasonal, summer jobs turn into further career growth and professional development within the Santa Cruz Seaside Company (SCSC). While others work at the Boardwalk as they are also engaged in academic programs that support their long-term professional goals beyond the Boardwalk.
At the Santa Cruz Seaside Company, we are so proud of our teammates who balance going to school and working a job at the same time. As a way of showing gratitude for these employees, the SCSC Scholarship Program was launched in 1992. This annual program provides employees the opportunity to apply for funds to put toward their educational costs. “The scholarship program is very important to me and to our Company,” shares Santa Cruz Seaside Company CEO, Karl Rice. “We believe in supporting our employees as they pursue their education, and the scholarship program is one way in which we do this.” Over the past 33 years, the number of recipients and the award amount has increased to continuing to validate and support our team members in their educational endeavors. Kaira Aldape Duron, a First Aid team member and 2025 SCSC Scholarship recipient shared, “Working at the Boardwalk has helped prepare me to lead in my career by giving me the opportunity to grow and ask questions or make mistakes without judgement. Thanks to the Boardwalk, I’ve learned a lot about Guest and patient interaction and I know it will help take me far in the future when pursuing my goals of becoming a doctor.”
This year, we had a record 75 applicants for the $2,500 SCSC Scholarship Award! Team members applying for the scholarship were required to obtain a letter of recommendation from their direct supervisor or manager, provide an unofficial transcript showing their most recent GPA, proof of enrollment in the 2025 Fall term and responses to application questions that allowed them to share insight into their educational and career goals, as well as a meaningful memory made while working at the Boardwalk. Brayan Robledo Mendoza, an Arcades, Games & Attractions team member and 2025 SCSC Scholarship recipient states, “Winning this scholarship means the world to me. It’s a powerful reminder that dedication truly pays off and that hard work is recognized and rewarded. I’m deeply grateful to the company for its generous support of my education.”
All team members who applied are inspiring and motivated individuals with incredible career goals! From future teachers, marketing professionals, and law enforcement officers to accountants and even quantum engineers, Santa Cruz Seaside Company is honored to play even a small role in their steps to achieving these goals!
Higher education costs continue to rise, and the burden of these fees often falls to the student working hard to make ends meet. This is why SCSC seeks to invest and contribute to our team members’ educational goals through the scholarship program. Recipients of the scholarship have shared their plans to use the money towards school fees, tuition costs, book purchases and even offsetting the cost of housing while attending school. First Aid team member, Kaira Aldape Duron added, “Pursuing secondary education takes a lot of willpower and hard work, and to know that the Boardwalk is behind us in that journey and supports our endeavors is the difference between working a job and being a part of a place that makes a lifetime of memories.”
CEO Karl Rice believes, “If our company can play even a small role in helping people learn and grow in their careers and in their lives, then we are happy and proud to do so.” Alongside Karl Rice, we wish our 2025 SCSC Scholarship recipients, and all Boardwalk team members that are doing the balancing act of juggling their educational journeys and careers, an outstanding school year & thank you for all you do to create lifetime memories for our Guests and each other!
Congratulations to our 2025 SCSC Scholarship Program recipients:
Christopher Turner
Jasmine Chavez
Kaira Aldape Duron
Yamile Ramirez Alvarado
Isaac Wyatt
Brayan Robledo Mendoza
Erik Oliva
Angel Munoz
Matthew Gutierrez
Sashil Camacho Mena
