We received more than 80 scholarship applications this year

The committee will announce the winners by June 15.

The scholarships will be awarded at this year's Young Journalists Scholarship Gala on October 3rd at Scott's Restaurant in Oakland's Jack London Square

George Francis was the joint second-oldest living man in the world, together with Englishman Henry Allingham.
Watch Slideshow

Francis resided at Eskaton Care Center Greenhaven in Sacramento -- near three of his four children. He counted his large family, which includes four children, 19 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-great-grandchildren as his major achievement.

Francis has lived through 19 United States presidents. Grover Cleveland was in the White House when Francis was born in New Orleans on June 6, 1896. Francis is believed to be the oldest man to cast a 
ballot last November for the Barack Obama.

Having lived through the 1940's in New Orleans, Francis's life features most all of the aspects for which the city is famous. For example, he met Marie LaVeaux, the "Voodoo Queen," attended a speech 
by Booker T. Washington, served as a grand marshal at a Mardi Gras Ball and played jazz music with Louis Armstrong.

Francis often worked several jobs to provide for his wife Josephine and family. The one-time professional boxer, laborer, barber, vaudevillian, chauffer and mechanic also was a popular cook, earning the name "King of the Louisiana Hot Links." According to Wikipedia, he credited his longevity to nature and staying active. He walked, rode his bicycle, danced and did the splits well into his 70's. He enjoyed a rich diet of pork, eggs, milk and lard and gave up smoking cigars at the age of 75.