Don Diego Scholarship Foundation (DDSF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ashley Colburn McCaughan as Executive Director (E.D.). She follows inaugural 1986-2022 E.D. Chana Mannen, who retired on June 30, 2022.

DDSF Chair Juanita Hayes, states, “Ashley’s background and expertise will carry our organization forward as we work toward raising our second million dollars in support of our mission to provide annual college scholarships to deserving, college-bound San Diego County students who have been associated with activities at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, including the San Diego County Fair.”

In 2005, McCaughan won a $5,000 DDSF 4-H scholarship, which helped support her at Colorado State University, where she earned a B.A. in Technical Journalism. She has served stints as DDSF’s Marketing Coordinator and as the Fair’s Marketing Coordinator/Spokesperson.

McCaughan says, “Receiving a DDSF scholarship was transformative. Now, I am eager to work closely with the Board to expand existing programs and create new outreach vehicles that will help future DDSF Scholar-Leaders achieve their goals.”

The Don Diego Scholarship Foundation was named for Don Diego, AKA Tom Hernandez, who served as the Fair’s welcoming goodwill ambassador from 1947-1984. Since its inception in 1986, the Foundation has awarded $1,276,844 in scholarships to 362 students and in agriculture education grants. More information is at www.staging.dondiegoscholarship.org and www.facebook.com/DonDiegoScholarship.