Monthly Newsletter
January 2026
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The last year marked a time of growing momentum—made possible by you!
Together, we awarded a record number of scholarships: more than 1,300 awards totaling over $2 million, supporting 945 hardworking Monroe Community College students! We also established nine new scholarships, helping students bridge the gap between available resources and the cost of tuition. The Foundation transferred $7.4 million to the College in support of programs, facilities, and scholarships, including $102,750 in MCC Assist emergency grants for 375 students when they needed it most.
Thank you for all that you do to support our students in their quest to succeed through your gifts to the Foundation. Our best to you for a happy and healthy 2026.
INTRODUCING THE FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE JENNIFER ELIZABETH HICKS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Katherine Koontz was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Jennifer Elizabeth Hicks Memorial Endowed Scholarship. Jennifer’s family established the scholarship to honor her legacy of kindness and compassion. She graduated from Monroe Community College’s emergency medical technician (EMT) program in 2019 and was devoted to giving back to the community through her work.
Katherine is passionate about using her interest in medicine and physiology to help people in medical emergencies. While attending Rochester Institute of Technology, she earned her EMT certification from MCC and has been active as an EMT since then. She started out volunteering for RIT Ambulance and soon began working full time in commercial emergency medical services. After graduating from RIT in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science, she completed a research internship at the Ohio State University before returning to Rochester and starting a family. Now Katherine is in the paramedic program at MCC and anticipates earning her paramedic certification this August. Support from the Jennifer Elizabeth Hicks Memorial Endowed Scholarship has helped to alleviate Katherine’s financial stress so she can focus on her academics, allowing her to better balance life and school with a vocation that is equally demanding and rewarding. Katherine ultimately plans to attend medical school to focus on emergency medicine.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 28TH ANNUAL GOLD STAR GALA
The 28th Annual Gold Star Gala presented by M&T Bank will be held at The Country Club of Rochester on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Guests will be arriving to DRIVEN: Meet you in Monaco at the Glamourous Gold Star Gala, where the pinnacle of motorsports meets the epitome of style! Honorary Chairs Patty & Jeff Davis and Catherine & Gary L. '76 Squires along with Committee Chairs Lisa & Virgil N. Joseph are planning a thrilling evening in support of students at Monroe Community College! Come, soak in the high-speed thrills and join us in this luxurious locale as we raise funds in support of the real winners: our students!
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and tickets,visit our Gala webpage.
YOUR YEAR-END GIVING STATEMENT
While we have sent individual receipts for your gifts as they were made, we also offer to make the tax preparation process a bit easier by supplying you with a Year-End Giving Statement. If you are interested in having a statement prepared, please contact Morgan Nikolov (mnikolov@monroecc.edu) and we will be happy to do so. Thank you again for your generous support!