News Releases
News from Lane Community College
August 6, 2008
LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE RECEIVES GRANT FROM MILLER FOUNDATION
Oregon's 17 community colleges will be awarded $1.5 million in total
Eugene, Ore. - Oregon's 17 community colleges have been challenged to outpace their fundraising for student scholarship money next year, thanks to a challenge grant from the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation.
The Miller Foundation (an independent, private organization established to enhance the quality of life of Oregonians through support of the arts and education) has offered to donate $1.5 million in total to the 17 community colleges. The challenges range from $50,000 up to $320,000 depending on the size of the college. Lane would receive $150,000, and possibly more if other colleges do not meet their target and funds are redistributed to colleges who meet or exceed their target.
To get the donation, each college's foundation will have to raise an equal amount in new money - atop the amounts they raised between April 2007 and March 2008 for scholarships.
If the colleges can meet the challenge, it would result in hundreds of additional scholarships for some of the most financially strapped students throughout Oregon.
"This may be the largest investment by a private foundation in the history of Oregon's community colleges," said Kathy Thomas, director of annual giving for the Lane Community College Foundation. "We are so pleased to have more resources to help students succeed."
"We feel community colleges are a vital part of Oregon's educational system and economy," said Chuck Putney, president of the Miller Foundation board. However, attendance at these colleges is a financial challenge for many students." "Frequently, the opportunity to attend a community college is the pathway to a living wage and a secure family."
In 2007-08, 266 people submitted 479 applications to the Foundation for scholarships in the all-majors category, but there were funds for only 36 awards. The Miller Foundation challenge would result in hundreds of additional scholarships for some of the most financially strapped students in our community. Overall, in 2007 the Foundation awarded a variety of scholarships, grants, stipends and loans to 624 students.
"Lane serves hundreds of students who otherwise wouldn't be able to go to college," said Mary Spilde, president. "The Miller Foundation challenge grant would help us increase opportunities for more students in need."
Eligible students must fill out the federal scholarship form (known as the FAFSA) and must seek an Oregon Opportunity Grant. The Miller Foundation funds would be added atop those federal and state moneys.
To be eligible, a student must be seeking an associate's degree, a certificate or a professional license; the funds are not available for those in non-credit courses, a GED program, a high school diploma program, or students taking courses not designed to meet a degree, certificate or license.
For more information, contact the LCC Foundation office at (541) 463-5226.
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Contacts: Joan Aschim, Lane Community College, (541) 463-5591
Monica Shovlin, The Ulum Group, (541) 434-7028
Kathy Thomas, Lane Community College Foundation, (541) 463-5538
