Dear Friends of Sinclair - Sinclair Community College

RUSS HOLLIS–CHANGING THE LIVES
OF SINCLAIR STUDENTS
Russ Hollis, a longtime supporter of students
at Sinclair Community College, was always
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interested in teaching. He wanted to help by
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providing scholarship money for students
interested in engineering technology. hoiukjh His fotkukj
contributions became a meaningful dheyrytg way to fjjfirf
participate in the teaching and
learning process.
More than 30 years ago,
Russ Hollis decided to
open his business,
Venture Mfg. Co. He’d
observed how some
companies were managed
and how poorly their
employees were treated, and
thought there was a better way. Hollis knew that
using modern methods and treating employees
well were the keys to success of any business.
Today, his company is an outstanding example
of American manufacturing at its best.
By providing funds to support high school
students attending engineering courses at Sinclair,
students can obtain meaningful technological
careers.
Hollis’ viewpoint is, “I believe every person
needs the opportunity for a job.” Providing aid
to students gets them on the way to those jobs.
Changing Lives Works!
MORTENOUS A. JOHNSON
2004 sinclair foundation annual report
Mortenous Johnson, Sinclair’s Enrichment
Center Manager, is a joyful contributor to the
campaign. Johnson has had an interesting
journey. He’s a native New Yorker, an Air Force
veteran assigned to England and Wright-Patterson
Air Force base, a former
Sinclair student and current
staff member. His
undergraduate work
was at Wilberforce
University and he
received his master’s
from the University of
Dayton. Johnson is familiar
with Ohio education at many
levels. He is committed to
helping people receive great educational
experiences. Johnson has benefited from
Sinclair both as a student and staff member and
has received Sinclair’s Future Leaders and Student
Advocacy awards.
When Johnson worked as a facilitator for Sinclair’s
Young Scholars program, he was instrumental
in helping and motivating these high school
students to prepare for higher education. The
first in their families to attend college, the Young
Scholars are exposed to mentoring and other
on-campus experiences designed to inspire their
future success. Johnson also helped implement
the first of the Academic Resource Centers in
area high schools where he worked with students
who wanted to improve their academic skills
and college readiness.
When asked why he donated so generously to
the Changing Lives campaign, he smiled and
said, “It’s a small way my wife, Fran, and I can
contribute to the lives of people in our
community.
My family is guided by spiritual and practical
principles that suggest we must always give back.”