Local family renews commitment to college scholarship fund
Anthony (Tony) and Mary Anne Graham of Patterson’s Pub in Mendocino have renewed their commitment to local MendocinoFort Bragg high school graduates again this year with a $25,000 scholarship fund, initially started in 2017. The fund is intended for one or more deserving students in need of financial support as their way of giving back to the community on a very practical level believing that “education is the foundational cornerstone of our society.”
Maxwell (Max) McKee, one such deserving student, was interviewed this year after the first semester of his freshman year at USF. Max has always enjoyed physics and mathematics and is enrolled in USF’s Architectural Engineering program. His dream of attending USF began at a young age when Max’s mother was enrolled in graduate school within the School of Education. Max would visit USF’s campus on the weekends and formed a connection to the university. Without the Graham’s support, McKee would have needed to work during the school year to support his hopes of attending USF, but now he can fully focus on his studies. Max states this opportunity has really taken a weight off his shoulders.
Both Tony and Mary Anne attended USF in the 1960s. Mary Anne then taught at Redwood Elementary School, and Tony practiced law in Mendocino and was an adjunct professor at USF. Mary Anne cites the school’s academic strength, small class sizes, and Jesuit commitment to social justice as reasons why local students should consider applying to USF. Together, the Grahams also own Patterson’s Pub in Mendocino. When not at the Pub, you can see Tony at 1st or 3rd base at Oracle Park as the occasional SF Giants “ball dude”.
USF is a small intimate urban university established in 1855, with its main campus located on the “hilltop” next to Golden Gate Park with stunning views from the Golden Gate Bridge and overlooking the heart of San Francisco. “Like our user-friendly Mendocino Coast community where everyone knows everyone, our local students won’t get lost in this urban campus of approximately 10,000 students, yet they have San Francisco in their backyard. When I taught at USF, my classes were never more than 20 students, so I had time for everyone,” says Tony. With almost 50 undergraduate and over 50 graduate majors, there is a program to fit every student.
“The University of San Francisco is indeed fortunate to include Tony and Mary Anne among our generous alumni family. They contribute to the USF community in numerous ways that reflect their pride and commitment to a Jesuit education and their community.” Louise Lucchesi, USF Development Office
The Grahams hope to significantly grow this scholarship over the next several years in order to encourage local high school graduates to apply to this prestigious Jesuit Catholic university and to continue financial support to returning Mendocino students. An average of 5 Mendocino High School graduates apply for admittance to USF each year.
Qualification for this scholarship is determined and administered by USF. Applicants should discuss it with their high school guidance counselor.