Archive for the ‘Outreach, Scholarships, and Grants’ Category

Cindy McKitrick, president of the Steilacoom Chamber of Commerce and a Pierce College alumnus, presented Pierce College Foundation Board Treasurer Linda Evanson with a $2,000 check to support student scholarships at the March 16 Breakfast with the President at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom.

The Steilacoom Chamber of Commerce has, for 12 years, offered $1,000 scholarships for four graduating Steilacoom High School students to attend Pierce College. Funds for the scholarship are raised through the Chamber’s annual Spaghetti Dinner, the Grand Old Fourth of July festivities, and other smaller fundraisers.

Once the Chamber funds the scholarship, the process of identifying deserving students begins. Steilacoom High School’s Wanda Betancourt is instrumental in this part. Chosen students are awarded certificates at the Steilacoom High School Senior Awards Night each year.

The Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Foundation has awarded the Pierce College Foundation $55,000 in support of scholarships for Pierce College students.  Of that, $45,000 will be used for the 2012-2013 school year; an additional one-time-only grant of $10,000 will be awarded now.

The Fuchs Foundation is a prominent supporter of scholarships at Pierce College, having given $730,000 over the past 17 years. The generous support from the Fuchs Foundation has helped hundreds of students, and now the need is even greater, said Suzy Ames, executive director of the Pierce College Foundation.

“Tuition keeps rising at an unprecedented rate. Many of our students are living on the margin,” explained Ames. “This grant from the Fuchs Foundation will literally keep some students from dropping out. It will keep the hope of education and job training alive for Pierce College students.”

For more information on scholarships at Pierce, visit the scholarships webpage.

The Pierce College Foundation is constantly striving to improve services and facilities for Pierce College and its students. This month, the Foundation has been working to secure grant funding for a number of vital programs, including the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse and athletics scholarships.

Some recent grant information from the Foundation:

• A $7,500 grant was recently submitted to the JPMorgan Chase Foundation in support of the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse. The Lakewood Computer Clubhouse is a free drop-in after-school and summer educational and empowerment program for youth aged 10–18 provided to the Lakewood community through a partnership between Pierce College and the Clover Park School District.

• A $5,000 grant was recently submitted to Umpqua Bank in support of support the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse.

• A $5,000 grant proposal was recently submitted to Coca-Cola Foundation in support of athletic scholarships.

If you’re a military student at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and you’re in need of extra cash for books, the Jennifer Jamison Textbook Scholarship may be your solution.

Pierce College is now seeking applications for the scholarship, which provides $200 for textbooks. Funds will be made available to winners for winter quarter 2012.

Application is open to any active duty military personnel, with preference going to those who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. The spouses of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are also eligible to apply. (Applicants must not already be receiving compensation for textbooks from another funding source.)

Further, qualified applicants must be enrolled in at least 10 credits at Pierce College and have a minimum 3.3 GPA at the time of application.

Deadline to apply is Oct. 6. Contact Ruth Ann Hatchett by phone at (253) 864-3231 or by email at rhatchett@pierce.ctc.edu for application materials and additional information.

Note: Because of Ms. Jamison’s involvement in the scholarship, she is unavailable to provide letters of recommendation for students.

The 2010-11 scholarships winners

On June 1, the Pierce Foundation gathered to honor the donors and recipients of the 2010-2011 Pierce College Foundation Scholarship awards.

In total, 96 students received scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,250 each, totaling  $134,782. Four of the recipients shared their experience at Pierce College with the 120 luncheon guests, highlighting the impact of receiving a scholarship.

The Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships over 15 years of creating possibilities for Pierce College students.

The Pierce College Foundation is constantly striving to improve services and facilities for Pierce College and its students. This month, the Foundation has been working to secure grant funding for a number of vital programs, including the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse and a proposed science dome in the Rainier building at Pierce Fort Steilacoom.

The Foundation is seeking the following grants for Pierce College projects and programs:

• A $3,500 grant was recently submitted to the Simpson Charitable Fund in support of the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse.  The Lakewood Computer Clubhouse is a free drop-in after-school and summer educational and empowerment program for youth aged 10–18 provided to the Lakewood community through a partnership between Pierce College and the Clover Park School District.

• A $10,000 grant was recently submitted to the Totem Ocean Trailer Express support of support of the science dome at Fort Steilacoom.  The science dome has the ability to transform all facets of science education, as well as complement other academic disciplines.  Students who did not know they had a penchant for science will realize they have many more doors open to them after experiencing this immersive learning environment.

• A $5,000 grant proposal was recently submitted to the Georgia-Pacific Foundation in support of the science dome.

The Pierce College Foundation is constantly striving to improve services and facilities for Pierce College and its students. In April, the Foundation has been working to secure grant funding for a number of vital programs, including the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse and a proposed science dome in the Rainier building at Pierce Fort Steilacoom.

Some recent grant information from the Foundation:

• A $5,000 grant was recently submitted to the Florence Kilworth Foundation in support of the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse.  The Lakewood Computer Clubhouse is a free drop-in after-school and summer educational and empowerment program for youth aged 10–18 provided to the Lakewood community through a partnership between Pierce College and the Clover Park School District.

• A $10,000 grant was recently submitted to the Puget Sound Energy Foundation support of support of the science dome at Fort Steilacoom.  The science dome has the ability to transform all facets of science education, as well as complement other academic disciplines.  Students who did not know they had a penchant for science will realize they have many more doors open to them after experiencing this immersive learning environment.

• A $5,000 grant proposal was recently submitted to the Elizabeth A. Lynn Foundation in support of the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse.

For more information, visit the Pierce College Foundation website.

Pierce students intending to transfer to the University of Washington Tacoma this fall may be eligible for a $9,000 head start thanks to the Next Step Scholarship.

The scholarship is open to students of select state community colleges. Applicants must have a minimum 3.5 grade point average and be nominated by Pierce College. Deadline to apply for nomination is 5 p.m. Monday, March 14. Deliver applications to the presidents’ offices at Pierce Fort Steilacoom (Cascade 301) or Pierce Puyallup (A100). Download an application online.

The Next Step Scholarship provides up to $4,500 per year for two years at UWT.

For more information, contact Ruth Ann Hatchett at rhatchett@pierce.ctc.edu.

Do you know a Pierce College alumnus who deserves recognition for his or her extraordinary accomplishments? This spring, the Pierce College Foundation will honor alumni who have distinguished themselves in professional or academic achievement, community service, college service, and/or personal triumphs.

To nominate an outstanding Pierce College alumnus, submit a nomination form online at www.pierce.ctc.edu/foundation/alumni/nominate. Nominations are due no later than Feb. 4.

Awards will be presented at the Distinguished Alumni Banquet on April 27. For more information or to reserve your place at the banquet, please email Ruth Ann Hatchett at rhatchett@pierce.ctc.edu or (253) 864-3261.