In today’s world, a college degree is more important than ever. The landscape of our economy requires people to be technically skilled, but also capable in the arts of communication, critical thinking and teamwork. Education is also an important stepping-stone out of poverty for many Americans and is tied to higher weekly and lifetime earning rates.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the earning potential of the average American with an associate’s degree is $124 more a week than people with only a high school diploma. Americans with a bachelor’s degree make $461 more per week than people with a high school diploma. These dollars may seem small when considered on a micro level, but they represent hundreds of thousands of dollars gained or lost over a person’s lifetime.
With the American middle class shrinking each year, and more than 38 million Americans living in poverty, education is more important than ever. Scholarships are more important than ever before to lift families into more economic security and bright futures.
Many Students in Need
In 2018 – 2019 academic year, 3,217 students applied for scholarships. The college had enough donor funds to grant 356 students awards, leaving 2,861 students to find alternate funding or struggle through school without assistance. A scholarship at SLCC more than doubles a student’s likelihood to graduate and also says to that student that someone they’ve never even met believes in them and their goals.
Joyce Koplin is an excellent example of how scholarships can change lives:
Joyce recently became a single mom of three children and was struggling to find a way to support her family. To increase her earning potential, Joyce knew it was time to go back to school.
When she heard about SLCC’s Occupational Therapy program, she knew it was the perfect fit for her interests, skills and background. She has experience working with preschool children who have survived trauma, and she is also a registered behavior technician, working primarily with children with autism.
“I want to be one of the first people to help others after something bad happens to them,” she said.
Joyce knew paying for school while supporting her family was going to be tough, if not impossible, so she was “ecstatic” to find out that she had been awarded the Kem Gardner Scholarship.
“I want my scholarship donors to be proud of me and to know that I don’t take the scholarship for granted. Thank you for giving me a new chance at life,” Joyce said.
A Legacy that Lasts
Creating a scholarship is a meaningful and very personal way to leave an imprint on our community. Long after a scholarship student graduates from college and builds a life and career for themselves, they will remember those who helped them and appreciate the investment in their future.
An endowed scholarship is especially impactful, as it will continue helping students indefinitely. Endowed scholarships are established with a gift of $50,000 or more, which is carefully invested and managed by the SLCC Foundation Board. Scholarship awards are made from a portion of the interest earned from the fund, which allows for the scholarship endowment to grow substantially over the years. The SLCC Foundation currently stewards 45 treasured scholarship endowments that help hundreds of students each year.
There are several different ways to create an endowment legacy at SLCC:
- Make a gift of $50,000 or more. We will invest the funds and begin making scholarship awards according to your wishes after two years of gaining interest.
- Pledge to build up an endowment fund over time. A pledge can be whatever you feel most comfortable contributing each year.
- Making a bequest to SLCC, which is the most frequently used method of creating an endowed scholarship. Many people choose to build their legacy during their lifetime, setting aside a percentage of their estate for a scholarship endowment.
However you choose to establish your legacy at SLCC, we are here to help. We will meet with you and tailor a scholarship to match your philanthropic vision. Some of the ways you can customize your scholarship are by choosing to help students in a specific program of study, demographic background or career goal.
“We find that when individuals look back at their life and the unique challenges they have faced over the years, they often choose to create a scholarship that will help people who are facing similar challenges.” –Nancy Michalko, Executive Director of the SLCC Foundation
Scholarships Can Be Tax-Savvy
The SLCC Foundation also does not charge any fees to manage and award donor scholarships to students. 100 percent of your gift is tax deductible will be given directly to students.
Why SLCC?
SLCC is the largest and most diverse college in Utah. We serve more than 60,000 students on 10 campuses across the valley and online. 54 percent of our students are the first in their family to go to college and 81 percent of our students work while they attend school. Our students also receive individual attention from our expert faculty in part due to our small class sizes, which average around 20 students per class.
Your dollar also goes further at SLCC. In-state tuition for full-time students is currently $4,000 a year – which is half of what students pay at the University of Utah and $2,000 less than what students pay at Utah Valley University.
Ready to learn more?
To start changing lives at SLCC, simply call or email Laura Thomas today. She will learn about your interests and work with you to establish a legacy at SLCC you can be proud of.
Laura Thomas
SLCC Development Officer
801-529-6835
Laura.Thomas@slcc.edu
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