Foundation Newsletter - Grays Harbor College

GRAYS HARBOR COLLEGE
F O U N D A T I O N
INCREASING
OPPORTUNITIES
Winter 2013
World Class Scholars Endowment: Up, Up & Closer to $1 Million Goal!
“It put me on the right
track for my future.”
“I used my WCS money for the
first 2 years of college. I could
save money and then transfer on.
Now I am a 3rd grade teacher.”
“Thanks GHC Foundation, I never could have gone
to college without my World Class Scholars money.”
These are just a few of the remarks made by
World Class Scholars alumni who updated
their status this Fall as part of the first-ever
World Class Scholars reunion. The first
graduates who qualified as World Class
Scholars were in their high school Class of
1999; many attended GHC and then
transferred on to 4-year universities. Some
came back home during Summer Break and
took classes at GHC and transferred the
credits. Now most are busy with careers and
families. Lots of these alums took some time
and checked in virtually to answer the
questions, “Where are you now” and “What
are you doing?”
A few virtual updates:
Haley Lile is an Artist in Santa Fe. Janis Boora
married Josh Steele and works as an R.N., Josh is a
Financial Advisor at Edward Jones. Tanner Worth
is a Pharmaceutical Rep in Southern California.
Since 1999, more than 700 students have
accessed the World Class Scholars scholarship,
which is now set at $1,500 for the first year at
GHC; more than twice that number, or 1,400
students, have qualified as World Class
Scholars upon high school graduation and
have received medallions from the GHC
Foundation.
An Aberdeen High
School senior enrolled
in the World Class
Scholars programs,
Keola Holt sang at
the reunion event past
September.
Thank you, Pat & Mary Ellen Hughes!
Shortly after the World Class Scholars reunion
event, two of the GHC Foundation’s most
generous donors Pat and Mary Ellen
Hughes renewed their major commitment to
the program plus their substantial contribution
to continue the Hughes Tool Scholarships.
“We are so appreciative of the Hughes’
generosity,” remarked GHC Foundation Chair
Shelli Hopsecger. “They have helped so
many young people get started on their college
educations with their kind and ongoing
support of WCS. Plus they have launched
many careers and new jobs by helping
vocational students purchase the tools needed
to do well in their classes and then begin a
job.”
• Getaway Adventure
February 20
Where in the world
will they go this
year?
Don’t miss the 6 th Mystery
Getaway event to be held February 20, 2014
at the HUB.
Previous destinations have included Seattle,
San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego and
Palm Springs.
Tickets available at the Foundation office
538-4243.
YOU might be the lucky traveler this time!
UPCOMING EVENTS
• Dancing with Your Stars
April 26
This great dancing exhibit and
contest returns to the Bishop
Center stage — this time,
proceeds will benefit World
Class Scholars.
Tickets available now at www.ghc.edu/
bishop.
Mark your Calendar for these two great
fundraisers for World Class Scholars!
1620 Edward P. Smith Drive • Aberdeen, WA 98520 • (360) 538-4243 • (800) 562-4830 • FAX (360) 538-4299
email: foundation@ghc.edu • www.ghc.edu/foundation

Grays Harbor College Foundation
1620 Edward P. Smith Drive
Aberdeen, WA 98520
OUR MISSION
The Grays Harbor College Foundation
seeks to increase opportunities for
deserving students to realize their
educational goals by offering
scholarship assistance and strong support
of the academic environment.
2013-2014 Scholarship Awards
• 282 Scholarships
• $568,621 Total
• $139,500 in other gifts to GHC
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shelli Hopsecger, President
Bob Paylor, Vice President
Mary Nelson, Secretary
Harold Warren, Treasurer
Bette Worth, Past President
Jo-Ann Andrews
Joy Beard
Jim Boora
Brent Dennis
Lynn Green
Rich Hole
Ken Hunt
Chet Jolly
Lynn Kessler
Tim Martin
Gary Morean
Wes Peterson
Bob Preble
Randy Rust, GHC Trustee
Gene Schermer
Rhonda Steinman
Beate Wahl
Bill Wolfenbarger
Ex-officio member: Ed Brewster,
President GHC
Emeritus Directors
Ernie Ingram dec.
Frank Larner
James Stewart dec.
STAFF:
Jan Jorgenson, Executive Director
Maria Christopherson, Program Specialist
Click for eCommunication
If you would like to
receive GHC Foundation
information via
email including
eNewsletters, please
call or email to be
added to our list:
jan.jorgenson@ghc.edu
(360) 538-4243
Groundbreaking—Schermer Instructional Building
Work progresses on the College’s new science, technology, engineering,
art & nursing classroom
building, named
in honor of longtime
GHC Chemistry instructor,
administrator
and Foundation board
member Dr. Gene
Schermer. The
Schemer building will
be ready for students
in Fall 2015.
Go to www.ghc.edu and click on STEM Building Construction photos to
see daily updates.
Apply for 2014-15 Scholarships Soon
On January 6, students can begin applying for scholarships accessing
the online application system at www.ghc.edu/scholarships. The deadline
will be March 10. Once completed, a committee of 12, including
both College individuals and GHC Foundation Board members, carefully
reviews each application. While they are assisted by the matching
features of the scholarship computer program, it is still a timeconsuming
and thoughtful process. Thanks, Scholarship Committee
for helping our students go to College!
KELSEY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS:
Announced just last week, many students in vocational programs
(teaching, nursing, automotive or other vocational careers) will be
receiving Kelsey Scholarships thanks to a very generous donation
from the Forest C. and Ruth V. Kelsey Foundation.
WAYS TO GIVE:
Charitable IRA “QCDs”
At the beginning of 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was
signed into law, extending through 2013 Charitable IRA “Qualified
Charitable Distribution (QCD).” This means that donors who are 70 1/2
or older can make gifts directly to the GHC Foundation from their
traditional and Roth IRAs without including the IRA withdrawals (known
as Required Minimum Distribution) as taxable income. Gifts must be
withdrawn by December 31, 2013. Check with your personal accountant or
tax preparation for further guidelines. Thanks for thinking of the Grays
Harbor College Foundation.