UMPQUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RECEIVES GRANT FROM MILLER FOUNDATION
News Release 08-013-D For more information: Release date: 08/12/08 Bentley Gilbert For immediate release (541) 440-7747 http://www.umpqua.edu/
Winchester— 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 state’s 17 community colleges. The challenges range from $50,000 up to $320,000 depending on the size of the college. Umpqua Community College would receive $50,000, and possibly more if other colleges do not meet their target and funds are redistributed to colleges who meet or exceed their targets.
To get the donation, each college's foundation must raise an equal amount in new money - above 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 Dennis O’Neill, director of the Umpqua 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."
The Miller Foundation challenge would result in hundreds of additional scholarships for some of the most financially strapped students in our community. Eligible students must fill out the federal scholarship application 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 UCC Foundation office at (541) 440-7678.
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Contacts: Dennis O’Neill, Umpqua Community College, (541) 440-7678
Laurie Spangenberg, Umpqua Community College, (541) 440-4620
Umpqua Community College is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Umpqua Community College, PO Box 967, Roseburg Oregon 97470 Phone: (541)440-4600.