Gunterman Family

Joan Gunterman spent most of her childhood in living in downtown Sacramento and graduated from Sacramento High School. She had a long career in the California Highway Patrol, entering the profession at a time when there were not many women serving as patrol officers. She retired as a sergeant in 2009 after a distinguished 28-year career in the CHP. Joan passed away in January 2022 after a long battle with cancer.

Joan lived in Sacramento for many years and met Sacramento City College students wherever she would go. She established the Joan Gunterman scholarship in 2015 because she wanted to make a difference at an institution that is local and she recognized that SCC students have need. Through the Joan Gunterman Scholarship, she wanted to do her part to help them to be successful in college.

Joan wanted students who receive her scholarship to know she hoped they will find a way to “pay it forward” to others in the future, in whatever ways they are able to, whether that be financially, volunteer work, or even acts of kindness to others.

The Joan Gunterman scholarship is awarded to first-year students who have not earned more than 30 cumulative units and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Students must be enrolled in any math class AND/OR be working toward a certificate or degree in any of the following Career Technical Education programs: Field Ecology, Chemical Technology, Electronics Technology, Mechanical-Electrical Technology, Engineering Design Technology, Community Studies, Early Childhood Education, Gerontology, Advanced Transportation Technology.