Annual Scholarship Breakfast Honors Donors and Recipients
Generosity and gratitude were on the menu at the celebration breakfast for the Passaic County Community College Foundation Named Scholarship Program, held March 12 at the Wanaque Academic Center.
PCCC administrators, faculty, staff, students, and guests gathered in the Black Box Theater for the annual event that honors named scholarship donors and student recipients.
“Students tell us how much receiving these scholarships has changed their lives,” said Dr. Steven Rose, president of PCCC, in his welcome remarks. “We thank you all.”
Todd Sorber, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, opened his presentation with the most exciting news of the morning. “2024 was our most successful year to date,” he said, highlighting a record total of 70 unique named scholarships, 165 student recipients, and over $140,000 in available funding.
While 25 percent of donors have funded their named scholarship for over 20 years, and 45 percent have funded for 5-20 years, an incredible 40 percent have done so in only the past five years, indicating both a firm foundation and a growing vision for the future.
Eligibility requirements for many of the scholarships have also evolved, becoming more expansive and inclusive. Some awards are designated for a single student studying to become an educator, or for five students studying math, for a student in STEM, or even for a student who is ineligible for any other scholarship, and so on.
“Now, almost every student at PCCC is eligible for some type of financial aid,” said Mr. Sorber, noting that this is especially meaningful given that numerous students at the College need to hold down jobs or care for a family – or both – while also pursuing their education.
An increasing number of named scholarships are donated by PCCC employees and alumni, as well as by community partners, and even student groups at PCCC.
“We never say no to a donor who wants to support a scholarship,” said Caroline Lederer, Foundation coordinator, drawing laughs and applause.
Reporting on fundraising events, Meredith Behrens, director of the Foundation, noted that the 2024 5k Run/Walk, which raises funds for Completion Scholarships, will support 25 scholarships during the 25-26 academic year, a generous increase over the 18 scholarships funded in the previous year.
The Living Beyond Horizons Scholarship emerged from the efforts of student members of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. As their Honors in Action Project last year, the students created a musical drama in which fictional characters told their immigration stories, many of which were based on the real-life experiences of the students or of people they knew.
The play was produced and staged last December in the PCCC Theater as a fundraiser. Ticket sales raised $1,800 which was matched dollar-for-dollar, by Foundation’s matching gift program, to support the Living Beyond Horizons Scholarship.
Commending PCCC’s community partners, Mr. Sorber hailed Provident Bank as “deeply committed to improving lives in the community,” and called Spencer Savings Bank “a true friend of the PCCC Foundation,” thanking them for supporting the Laptop Upcycle project which enabled the College to distribute refurbished laptops to students who can’t afford them.
Special thanks also went to the Immigration and American Citizenship Organization, Shapiro Family Foundation, and The Paterson Rotary Club/William P. Hannah Memorial Trust. *****
The exceptional breakfast meal was created and served by students and staff of the Food Services department and Culinary Arts program at PCCC. ****
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