Helping students soar higher
Employee Giving at 怡春院视频 Changes Lives
At Laramie County Community College, the dedication of faculty and staff to enriching the lives of students extends beyond the classroom.
The Employee Giving Campaign exemplifies their unwavering commitment to student success,
addressing the pivotal challenge of college affordability.
The financial hurdle that impedes many students from pursuing higher education finds a formidable opponent in 怡春院视频's Employee Giving Campaign. Through this initiative, faculty and staff actively contribute to providing vital financial assistance. The campaign allows them to choose specific areas of support, tailoring their impact to directly benefit students.
From bolstering Pathway Scholarships to sustaining existing donor-funded scholarships that span diverse demographics and programs, the Employee Giving Campaign serves as a conduit for targeted generosity. The flexibility of the 怡春院视频 Foundation Excellence Fund further ensures that resources can be directed to areas of greatest need, be it scholarships, program requirements, or essential equipment.
Adding a layer of empowerment, the 怡春院视频 Foundation facilitates decision-making for contributors, aiding them in identifying scholarships or funds aligned with their interests. Matching Funds, a testament to community collaboration, amplify the impact of individual contributions, effectively doubling the support directed towards endowed funds.
For both new and existing Employee Givers, the incentive to increase monthly payroll deductions brings an added dimension to their philanthropic endeavors. With the 怡春院视频 Foundation matching any increase, a simple gesture like augmenting a $5/month commitment transforms into a more substantial contribution, making a lasting impact on endowed scholarships and programs.
As the Employee Giving Campaign unfolds, it stands as a testament to the collective dedication of 怡春院视频's faculty and staff, fostering a culture where inspired learning not only transforms lives but also breaks down financial barriers to education.
Just ask Erin Palmquist, Arts & Sciences Administrative Assistant, and Jeff Shmidl, Business & Finance Program director.
Erin Palmquist
Administrative Assistant III, Arts & Sciences
Why is it meaningful to you to support students through scholarships in your son鈥檚 name?
My husband and I were thankful to attend college with the help of scholarships, and our son Grant attended 怡春院视频 on a scholarship. Grant graduated with an associate of science in general studies in Science and Health Sciences from 怡春院视频. After Grant passed away at the age of 23, we wanted a way to remember and honor him and to give back to the college which has meant so much to us. Grant had just completed his first year of pharmacy school at Regis University in Denver. Since the Grant T. Palmquist Scholarship was established in 2010, we have awarded over 14 scholarships to students in the areas of pharmacy, nursing and science. Our second family scholarship is the 鈥淧almquist Going Back to College鈥� scholarship, established in 2009. I was about to finish my AA degree at 怡春院视频 at the age of 50, and thought it would be great for others to have the opportunity to have encouragement and support for 鈥済oing back to college.鈥� I asked my friends and family in lieu of a 50th birthday party or gifts, please consider donating to the 鈥淧almquist Going Back to College Scholarship,鈥� and the rest is history.
How do you hope students who benefit from the scholarships think about their education and future as a result of this support?
Our hope is that students who receive our scholarships understand and appreciate that others have been in their shoes, returning to college or needing support and financial assistance. We want them to know that because others care and want to pass that caring on to them, and that in turn, they鈥檒l be inspired to one day do the same for someone else.
What does it mean to you, personally, to see students thriving and moving forward in part because of your support?
It brings us so much joy to see the recipients of our scholarships succeed. We have kept in contact with several of the students who have received our scholarships, and to this day, we still hear from them and see some of them. Our very first recipient of the Grant T. Palmquist Scholarship received her Pharmacy Degree over 10 years ago and is a practicing pharmacist today. Her sister also received the scholarship and received her nursing degree. It means the world to us to see our students succeed from these scholarships. Our hearts are full knowing that Grant鈥檚 legacy goes on through the lives of these students. I had a student who received our 鈥淕oing Back to College鈥� scholarship stop into my office a couple of weeks ago. She graduated in January and is employed as an accountant. She gave us a 鈥淔orever Rose in Water Globe鈥� and said that not only did the scholarship she received for several semesters help, but our support and encouragement to believe in herself also helped her through the rough times. She said she would like to be able to help other students one day. We are truly thankful and blessed to be a part of the 怡春院视频 Family in helping our students succeed.
Jeff Shmidl
Business & Finance Program Director
What motivates you to contribute to the 怡春院视频 Foundation and support students through scholarships?
Personally, I鈥檓 passionate about higher education and creating equitable opportunities for all. My first scholarship was in honor of my late mother. The scholarship is intended for a student in agriculture. My mother was never given a chance to obtain a college degree and always talked about how she would鈥檝e loved the opportunity. I鈥檝e seen first-hand where students had to make choices between survival and obtaining a degree, to better themselves. It鈥檚 not sustainable for a student to forgo survival to obtain an education. I was blessed with the opportunity to get an education, and I want to help others better their lives in the same way.
How do you see your contributions making a real difference in students鈥� lives, both on campus and in their futures?
Professionally, I understand the economic and societal benefits of higher education. I want to be a part of helping my community/state grow and prosper. Without equitable access, we may not realize our full potential, as some of our brightest students may not be able to afford college without help. Recently, I had a Bachelor of Applied Science student who was only two courses shy of completing her degree. However, she had run out of financial aid eligibility. Being a single mother, she had decided not to enroll, get a different job and hopefully come back later. I was able to find some help with financial aid and institutional support, which assisted in allowing her to continue in school. This will create employment opportunities that otherwise wouldn鈥檛 exist.
What would you say to someone on the fence about giving, especially someone who might think a small donation doesn鈥檛 matter?
We were able to keep the previously mentioned student going for less than $1,000. It doesn鈥檛 take very many donations to get that $1,000, or a lack of donations not to have the $1,000. If you only give $50, that鈥檚 5% of what that student needed. Ask your students if they had help and what that meant for them to keep going. I think you鈥檇 be surprised. If you endow a scholarship, you will receive a thank-you letter from the scholarship recipient(s). Often telling their story. This has been an unexpected benefit that I love. It always makes me feel proud and reinforces that I made the right decision.