Port of Long Beach BRIEFS: POLB Scholarships Available and Harbor Commission Names New HR Director

POLB Scholarships Aim to Help Students Pay for College

Applications are available for the Port of Long Beach’s scholarship program for Long Beach-area high school students. Program details, eligibility information and online application are available on the port’s website listed below.

The scholarships are open to high school seniors attending Long Beach Unified School District service area high schools and pursuing careers in international trade, logistics and other port-related industries. The 2022 scholarship program will now include trade programs and students enrolling part-time. The port will award a total of $200,000 for high school and college scholarships in 2022 and amounts will range from $500 to $5,000.

Applications for port scholarships at Long Beach City College, California State Long Beach and California Maritime Academy are handled in each school’s scholarship application office. Contact them directly for more details.

Applications for the Port High School Scholarship Program are due March 1; no late applications will be accepted. Applicants are advised to read the instructions carefully.

Details: www.polb.com/community/education-resources-scholarship 

Sandy Witz Named Harbor Department HR Director

LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Jan.10, approved the appointment of Sandy Witz as director of human resources services to lead the division that oversees the port’s human capital strategies. The Port of Long Beach has about 550 employees. Witz, the former port assistant director of human resources, had been serving in a consulting role as acting HR director. She was selected for the permanent position following a competitive search after the previous HR director, Stacey Lewis, announced her retirement. Witz joined the Port of Long Beach in 2018 as assistant director of human resources, serving until May of last year. Prior to coming to the port, she worked for City of Anaheim human resources for more than 20 years serving in various leadership positions. Witz earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at California State University, Long Beach, and a master’s of public administration at the University of Southern California. She is the current president and past board member for the Southern California Public Management Association-Human Resources. Witz’s appointment was effective Jan. 15.