Downtown Fullerton hosts Oktoberfest

 The Fullerton College Foundation organized Oktoberfest this Sunday in the Downtown Plaza.

Oktoberfest gathers funds for the Scholarship Program for Fullerton College students. 

The foundation has been working for 50 years and gives out scholarships once a year depending on the GPA of each student as well  as their major.

They receive donations through different programs to finance their own programs. 

“McCoy Mills Ford helped by loaning a car, the foundation will still have to buy it, but we hope we make it out of the tickets sales“ said Tony Florentine, president of the board of the Fullerton College Foundation. “We are looking for people to help in our program enrichment, with financial help.” 

The foundation does not only give away scholarships, it also supports events from FC, such as the Arts Department with the Laramie Project.  

“This year we spent $130,000 in scholarships” Florentine said. 

Members of the North Orange County Community College District, the President of the Fullerton Arboretrum, and Miss Fullerton were danced to the classic-rock covers of the band The Answer.

Tickets to a Ford Mustang raffle had been selling since April. 

Prizes that were raffled were an iPod Nano, $500 to $1,000, and even a new car. 

The drinks were donated by Aaron Barkenhagen owner of the Bootlegger’s brewery, a local store.  

“We always like to support local events, and Fullerton College Foundation is a good cause” says Barkenhagen, a CSUF graduate. 

This is the second annual Oktoberfest held by the Foundation. According to Lindsey Gatica, there were around 200 people coming in and out from 2 - 5 p.m.

“We usually have four events, the Scholarship banquet, the Cinco de Mayo party, Oktoberfest and another one on Christmas,” Gatica said. “Everyone here has donated or given us a good deal in their services”.

Nissa Foster, who works for the foundation, was responsible for booking the band.

“I heard them play at the Farmer’s Market and called them, and they agreed to play for us,” Foster said.  

The foundation  has an agreement with Apple, to allow students to purchase Apple products online. 

The foundation has  over 200 scholarships and is helping to enrich the education of students.