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| Jerry Ollis (right), Sylva branch manager for Entegra Bank, presents a $25,000 donation for the SCC Foundation’s Student Success Campaign to, from left: Brett Woods, director of the SCC Foundation; Luke Hyde, chair for the SCC Foundation’s board of directors; and Dr. Don Tomas, president of SCC. The presentation was made during the Phase II: March to a Million launch on April 5 at SCC’s Jackson Campus. |
Even before launching “Phase II: March to a Million” on April 5, Southwestern Community College’s Student Success Campaign was well on its way to the seven-figure goal.
The most ambitious fundraising effort in the SCC Foundation’s history got a huge boost during the launch event when Jerry Ollis, Sylva branch manager for Entegra Bank, presented a $25,000 check to SCC officials.
The launch also included the unveiling of a large plaque that recognizes major donors to the Student Success Campaign, which is aimed at bridging the gap between scholarship availability and need at SCC.
“There are no words to adequately express our gratitude to Entegra Bank for the generosity they’ve shown toward out students,” said Dr. Don Tomas, president of SCC. “I’m so pleased they want to invest in the future of our students. Student Success is the name of this campaign for a very simple reason; that’s what we are all about. We want to help more students succeed in Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary. Gifts like Entegra’s are making that vision a reality.”
Along with an earlier contribution of $33,333.33, Entegra has now given more than $58,000 to the campaign. The bank’s earlier gift was the largest single donation to the fundraising effort.
“We realize that the vast majority of graduates of SCC stay and work in Western North Carolina,” said Roger Plemens, Entegra Bank’s president and chief executive officer. “Having an educated, motivated workforce is key to our local economy. It’s great to see graduates obtain good paying jobs in their field of study. At Entegra Bank we have many employees who are graduates of SCC and many others that have taken courses that assist them in their job development. We see firsthand the quality of students coming from SCC.”
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| Charles Wolfe, Student Success Campaign chair, addresses the crowd during the Phase II: March to a Million launch event on April 5 at SCC’s Jackson Campus. In the background is Dr. Don Tomas, SCC president. |
Phase I of the campaign was achieved in 2014 as SCC was able to fully leverage a federal challenge grant that matched the first $300,000 raised.
With donations made since then, including Entegra’s, the campaign now has more than $700,000 in the bank.
“I’m constantly impressed by the generous spirit of the people in Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary,” said Brett Woods, director of the SCC Foundation. “More and more, folks are appreciating the value of an SCC eduation. When you see how a college degree can change someone’s life, it’s only natural to want to make that opportunity available for even more people – and that is exactly what Entegra has done. They’ve stepped up and shown philanthropic leadership within our community, and we are grateful.”
For more information about the SCC Foundation and the Student Success Campaign, contact Woods at 828.339.4241 orb_woods@southwesterncc.edu.
