HISTORY
Page Smith was a distinguished American historian, teacher, and author. When UC, Santa Cruz opened, in 1965, he was the provost of the first college, Cowell. Eloise, his wife, an artist and community leader, was his partner is presiding over a creative, imaginative, loving college community that was a great place in which to come of age. The Smiths treated all who crossed their paths with dignity, grace, and respect.
Having grown up in an orphanage and foster homes, going on his own when he was sixteen, Bill Dickinson (Cowell ’68) was one of the first students to arrive on the new campus in 1965. He credits the pioneering spirit of those early years and the gracious quality of the Cowell community with teaching him to have a noble vision for his life and preparing him to pursue that vision successfully.
When Bill established the Page and Eloise Smith Scholarship in 1999, he saw it as a way to give back to UC Santa Cruz, to honor his mentors, and to help veterans of the foster care and juvenile justice systems, orphans without family support, and others who suffered serious childhood abuse or neglect to reach their educational dreams. This rapidly grew in vision and scope to become the all-volunteer Page and Eloise Smith Scholastic Society to provide UC, Santa Cruz students (called Collegiate Fellows) with a community of friends, financial help, and mentors (called Senior Fellows) committed to individual students’ success.
The Smith Society grew from three students in its first year to our current sixty-eight. Of one hundred and sixty-six students served, all but a handful have graduated or are on track to graduate. Many have gone on to attend prestigious graduate schools or to pursue successful careers. We also are paving a path to college for current foster youths and others.
Started in 2004, with funding from the Stuart Foundation, the Renaissance Scholars Program has provided institutional support to the same students, its services extending from academic and emotional advising, to help navigating the University system and to authorizing priority enrollment in courses. It is the first program of its kind in the University of California System and, to date, the only one that provides systematic outreach to current foster youths and others seeking college admission.
