Fundraising Efforts Lead to Creation of Nineteen Annual $1,000 Scholarships

Columbia College is now offering nineteen $1,000 scholarships, in addition to the previously established scholarships available at the college. Thanks to a highly successful three-year fundraising campaign that concluded in June of this year, the college will have an additional nineteen $1,000 scholarships to award, every year, forever.

The campaign has placed the Columbia College Foundation into the statewide spotlight. The campaign started in late 2008 when the Osher Foundation gave $25 million to the California Community Colleges, and pledged an additional $25 million as a match for funds raised by individual campuses. Each of the 112 colleges throughout the State were given a fundraising target based on student enrollment. Columbia’s initial target was $94,786. By the end of the three-year long campaign, Columbia had raised 206% of its target, or $194,995, placing second among all colleges in the State.

“We could not have achieved these results without the tremendous generosity of our community,” noted Mel Kirk, Foundation Board President. “Several key business leaders and other generous individuals saw the opportunity to make a difference, and jumped on board.” 

The Foundation’s success spurred terrific interest at the state level, and consequently, Beccie Michael, Director of Development, was asked to present to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors in July. Michael was also interviewed for an upcoming article in an international magazine, Currents, published by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. “I believe our success can be attributed to several key factors. First, we have a passionate Board that was completely committed to this campaign. They chose to put this first, above any other fundraising priority. Columbia is truly a student-focused institution.” The Foundation also received support from the Sonora Area Foundation, which was instrumental in advocating for Osher Scholarships among its donors and fund advisors. 

Donors that contributed $13,500 or more were able to name the $1,000 scholarship generated from their gift each year. Named Osher Scholarships include: the Don Brady Scholarship, Joyce & Ed Brockman Scholarship, Marjorie L. Coffill Memorial Scholarship, Bob & Helen Francis Memorial Scholarship, four Front Porch Scholarships, Mick Grimes Scholarship, Holder Family Scholarship, Elwood & Elizabeth Johnson Scholarship, Irving J. Symons Memorial Scholarship, John Wise Scholarship, and Millie Wise Scholarship.

Applications for Osher Scholarships will be available in the upcoming fall semester, and will be posted on both the College Foundation and Scholarship’s Office websites. Basic criteria include: completion of at least 24 units, qualification for a Board of Governor’s fee waiver (based on income), and demonstrated progress toward a degree or certificate. Some named scholarships have additional criteria, such as degree major. Students that meet these criteria are encouraged to complete an application as early as possible in the fall semester.

The Columbia College Foundation is a Sonora based non-profit organization that supports student success through scholarships, student activities, instructional programs, and other key campus-based projects. Since 1972, the Columbia College Foundation has enriched the campus environment by providing community resources that ultimately expand educational opportunities for Columbia’s students. Donations to the Columbia College Foundation are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information, please call (209) 588-5055 or visit www.gocolumbia.edu/foundation.

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Coni M. Chavez
Executive Assistant to the President
Columbia College
11600 Columbia College Drive
Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 588-5115 • (209) 588-5161 fax
chavezc@yosemite.edu