For more information, contact Darnell Holopirek, 620-792-9367.

August 31, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Story by: Linda Dueser

Donor Appreciation Dinner Gives Barton Students Chance to Say Thank You

The Barton County Community College students who have received Foundation academic scholarships will have the opportunity to thank their donors in person on Sept. 29 when the BCCC Foundation hosts its first Donor Appreciation Dinner.

“It is so important for the donors and the students receiving the awards to meet,” said Barton’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement. “It’s a win-win situation for both. Here are these generous people who have been giving this money to help the students go to school, and it can’t help but be wonderful for the students to have a chance to meet them in person and say ‘thank you.’”

With attendance by invitation only, the event is set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Highland Hotel Heritage Room. On the invitation list are all donors of endowments or annual scholarships in 2004-05 and 2005-06, the 185 scholarship recipients of 2005-06, plus the College’s academic advisers, the Foundation Board of Directors, President’s Staff and Board of Trustees. Invitations will have an RSVP date of Sept. 16, Holopirek said.

During the program, Lois Alban Ryan, a longtime Barton donor who left Great Bend in 1990, will speak about why she continues to give support to Barton. In addition, one traditional and one non-traditional student will give testimonies on what their scholarships have done for them. The College’s Interim President Dr. Steve Maier will open the program with a welcome.

The purpose of the Donor Appreciation Dinner is three-fold, Holopirek said. First, it will be an opportunity to thank the donors who give their generous support to the College. Second, the students will benefit by meeting their donors in person to thank them, and third, the event will give the students a chance to understand the purpose and mission of the BCCC Foundation.

“I’ve been wanting to have this appreciation event ever since I became director of the Foundation,” Holopirek said. “I know it will really thrill the donors to meet the students who are receiving their financial assistance.” She added that the Foundation plans to make the Donor Appreciation Dinner an annual event.

The following is a list of all of the BCCC Foundation academic scholarship endowments and annually-funded scholarships: