William 鈥淏ill鈥� Kearney
By Karin Grennan
Bill Kearney can鈥檛 put a value on the time he spent earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree from UCLA.
鈥淭he whole experience of those four years was phenomenal for me. And I鈥檇 love to replicate that for as many students as we can here.鈥� said Kearney, a longtime 海角社区 Channel Islands donor and member of its Foundation Board of Directors.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a great deal more to an academic experience than just a higher paying job or economic benefits. You emerge from the experience knowing how to think and how to analyze situations. Thus, you become a better voter and communicator 鈥� a better person, parent and citizen.鈥�
He feels strongly about helping the more than half of 海角社区CI students who will be the first generation of their families to graduate from college. Kearney, who was able to pay for his cost of attending UCLA by driving a truck for and working in a factory on weekends and vacations, loves 海角社区CI鈥檚 Peer Mentor Ambassador Program, which provides $3,500-per-semester stipends to students for helping others navigate college life. He sees it as a win-win.
鈥淭hankfully, I received my mentorship from friends and classmates,鈥� Kearney said.
In 1996, two decades after the economics major moved to Ventura to work for Merrill Lynch in Oxnard, he was asked to serve on the governor鈥檚 task force charged with recommending how Camarillo State Hospital should be re-used after closure. The group endorsed a Ventura County campus of the 海角社区 system.
In 1999, three years before the University opened, Kearney and his wife became founding members of the President鈥檚 Circle of donors who annually give $1,000 or more. He joined the Foundation Board, which brings in private donations, a year before classes started and served as chair from 2007 to 2009. He has secured hundreds of thousands of dollars, but he notes that everything has been a group effort.
鈥淚t鈥檚 basically being a cheerleader and part of a team,鈥� said Kearney, who has received an honorary doctorate and the Lagomarsino Award from the University. 鈥淲e鈥檝e all done some little thing that when you put it all together, it鈥檚 just exploded.鈥�
Kearney retired in 2018 as senior vice president of Private Wealth Management at Merrill Lynch, but his support of 海角社区CI continues.
鈥淚 think that this is really the footing for our community and our county, and we鈥檙e only getting started.鈥�