With an initial contribution from Watson Land Company, California State University, Dominguez Hills has established the Jerry Groomes Endowed Scholarship for Excellence in Public Administration, named in honor of the former Carson city manager.
Watson Land Company and CSU Dominguez Hills officials made the announcement of the scholarship at a farewell party for Groomes in early January. Groomes, who had served as city manager of the city of Carson for the past 12 years, left the position to take a job as director of the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation in San Diego.
In creating a scholarship for public administration students in Groomes’ name, Bruce Choate, Watson Land Company president and CEO, says the company wanted to pay tribute to the strong leadership Groomes provided to the city and residents of Carson and help develop future leaders like him.
“Watson Land Company joins with the university, the employees of the city of Carson, and the residents of Carson to thank Jerry Groomes for his many years of dedicated and exemplary service,” Choate said. “His leadership has made Carson a great place to call home and conduct business.”
Watson Land Company made a four-year financial commitment to establish the endowment; the interest that will be generated will be used to award scholarships annually. Undergraduate or graduate students majoring in public administration and who have a 3.0 or higher grade point average will be eligible to apply.
“It is a great honor for me to be recognized by having a scholarship endowed in my name,” Groomes said. “There is a great need for excellent public administrators in this country, and I hope this scholarship helps to develop such future talent and leadership.”
For more information about donating to the scholarship or to the university, contact the Office of Development at (310) 243-2182.
