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Foundation forms advisory council

2016-01-15
Photo of SCC Founcation Council Members
Members of the SCC Foundation’s faculty and staff advancement advisory council include, front row, from left: Beverly Balliot, Danell Moses, Erin McCully and Kathy Posey. Back row: Brett Woods, Dr. Mark Ellison, Delphia Birchfield and Jennifer Ashlock. Not pictured are Dr. Cheryl Davids, Tyler Norris Goode, Tneshia Richards and Jeanette White.

In an effort to capitalize on recent momentum from several successful fundraising efforts, the Southwestern Community College Foundation has formed a faculty and staff advancement advisory council.

The first-of-its kind group will serve primarily to provide insight and advice to SCC Foundation leadership while also advocating internally and externally for the college’s fundraising arm.

The mission of the SCC Foundation is to “help ensure educational excellence” at the college.

“We already have a fantastic group of community leaders serving as our foundation board of directors,” said Brett Woods, who serves as the foundation’s director. “I can think of no better way to complement their efforts than by gathering input and ideas from a group of people who’ve dedicated their lives and careers to helping our students succeed.”

Last spring, faculty and staff pitched in to fund a full-year tuition scholarship that was the grand prize at the college’s 50th anniversary open house celebration and scavenger hunt. Woods and the SCC Foundation led that fundraising effort.

The SCC Foundation also successfully maximized a federal challenge grant and now has more than $680,000 in the bank for the Student Success Campaign. The most ambitious fundraising effort in the college’s history, the campaign aims to raise more than $1 million for an endowment that will be primarily used to support student scholarships.

“Committee members often encounter students that are unable to attend or return to SCC due to financial challenges,” said enrollment services assistant Jennifer Ashlock, who serves on the committee. “We're focused, therefore, on creating a philanthropic culture, internally and externally, to ensure that all who desire can attend, graduate and succeed in their chosen path.”

Tyler Norris Goode SCC’s director of public relations, added: “There’s a lot of positive energy on our campus toward supporting our students. As faculty and staff members, we work closely with our students. We get to know their stories, the challenges they’re facing, and we want to do everything we can to help them so that they can be successful. Our goal as an advisory council is to harness that energy and assist Brett in his efforts to help more students than ever before.”

For more information about the SCC Foundation and its efforts to support student success at SCC, visit www.southwesterncc.edu/Foundation or contact Woods at b_woods@southwesterncc.edu or 828.339.4241.

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