The Sonoma Valley Democrats will host their Spring Social on Sunday, April 19, at the Pueblo Serena Club House, 951 5th Street West, Sonoma. The event is open to the public and will run from 3-5 p.m. Elected officials and candidates have also been invited.

A $20 donation per person will be requested at the door of the upcoming social to help raise funds for the Gerald Hill Memorial Scholarship. The annual scholarship is awarded to two graduating Sonoma Valley High School seniors. The award winners are chosen by their teachers based on a record of community service and academic performance.

Alina Marie Castro Gonzalez, 18, was a recipient of the scholarship last year. Gonzalez believes the scholarship has a meaningful impact on students’ lives by helping offset some of the financial burdens of attending college.

“I hope it continues to impact students like me and students in general to make their lives easier as university students,” said Gonzalez who was able to purchase much of her class materials and books with the scholarship funds.

Currently a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley, studying political science and history, Gonzalez was born and raised in Sonoma County and aspires to become a public defender serving marginalized communities.

Gerald Hill was a founding member of the local Democratic club. Hill, along with his wife Kathleen Thompson Hill, was also a long-time contributor to the Sonoma Index-Tribune. He was a local attorney, historian, and author. Hill passed away in 2012 in San Rafael at the age of 82.

The scholarship was established by the Sonoma Valley Democrats in his honor more than 10 years ago and has been awarded to several students since. This year’s awards will be presented on Wednesday, April 22, at 6 p.m. in the school’s gym.