Foundation Makes Scholarships Easier to Find, Pursue

Throughout the year, the MCC Foundation works hard to manage scholarships, both by raising money to create and grow scholarships and by getting the word out about money that is available to students through these scholarships. Because dozens of scholarships go unclaimed each year, the MCC Foundation is celebrating National Scholarship Month with a campaign to raise the visibility of available scholarship money. Based on input and feedback from students and student services staff, the foundation has initiated several improvements to the scholarship-seeking process, including:

• Bettering the booklet: The online MCC scholarship booklet, which lists all of the available scholarships for any given semester, is scheduled to be available by the end of November, two months earlier than in years past. This will give students additional time to gather and submit the applications in time for the April deadline.
• Submission goes digital: In the fall of 2011, the application submission process itself will become automated so students will be able to apply online. This change will allow for earlier awarding, which will help students and their families make informed, timely enrollment decisions.

The MCC Foundation also has planned a number of activities and initiatives that celebrate MCC scholars, scholarship donors and the scholarships themselves, including:

• Thanks-a-thon: MCC scholars will gather on Friday, November 19 for the annual donor phone-a-thon, where they will spend the evening calling more than 500 scholarship donors to thank them for their contribution to MCC. The volunteer callers do not solicit donors for additional contributions during the call, and some even get to talk with the specific donor who contributed to their own scholarship, so the phone-a-thon is very rewarding for them. “We’ve received enormous amounts of praise for this activity on both sides of the phone,” said Jessica Ramirez, manager of community relations and fund raising at the MCC Foundation.
• Highlighting MCC scholars: Throughout the month of November, MCC scholarship recipients will be featured on The MCC Insider in articles that both recognize the scholars for their accomplishments and bring attention to various scholarships that are available.
• Adopt a Student: This spring, the foundation is launching the Adopt a Student program, which invites local business and civic organizations to support students in a fund-a-need format, allowing donors to choose the types of costs their contributions will cover. Using this proven fundraising technique, the foundation will help donors and prospective donors connect more closely with students in need. The foundation's scholarship committee, which includes business members, high school counselors and A+ program coordinators, has been instrumental in the development of the program.

So, be on the lookout for these and other changes that will help the MCC Foundation create opportunities for our students. If you are a student exploring scholarship opportunities, there are two ways you can get more information:

1. Click here to view the on-line scholarship booklet or follow this path on the MCC web site: Get Started --> Step 2 --> Scholarships
2. Schedule an appointment to see your campus financial aid officer

If you are an employee or community member exploring contribution opportunities, please contact Jessica Ramirez at 604.1458 or by email.

Here’s wishing you a happy and financially sound National Scholarship Month!