Past Monthly Newsletters
January 2024
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The past year certainly proved to be an empowering one. Thanks to you, we provided more than 900 scholarships to hardworking Monroe Community College students, including 16 new scholarship funds, helping them close the chasm between their available resources and the cost of tuition.
Under the leadership of MCC President DeAnna Burt-Nanna, we see the efforts our students make every day. With our collective, laser-like focus on student success, we are moving determinedly forward together to fostering a college-going culture across all ZIP codes of our community where everyone has an opportunity to benefit from MCC’s many innovative offerings and services to achieve. We are proud to have transferred $7.8 million to the College in support of programs, facilities and scholarships including a total of $105,375 in MCC Assist emergency grants awarded to 275 MCC students.
We are grateful that so many of you continued to include the Monroe Community College Foundation in your philanthropic giving plans, allowing us to provide our students with the resources they need to be successful.
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 2024.
STAR POWER SCHOLARSHIP EMPOWERS EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR SINGLE STUDENT-PARENTS AT MCC
Millibel Cotto is one of this year’s recipients of the STAR Power Scholarship. This award supports single student-parents who are head of household and provides the necessary resources to help them cross the finish line to graduation. Millibel assists in the Teaching and Learning Department at the Rochester City School District and provides counseling and crisis intervention services at the School of the Arts.
Millibel (pictured right with Calvin Gantt and Gretchen Wood) was raised in Puerto Rico and was told at age 17 that her life was over when she became pregnant. She believed she had no chance for a future as an unemployed teen mom who is Latina and self-conscious about her English skills. She had lost her job and apartment in 2021 and had no income for months, often times not having enough food for herself and her two sons. She eventually was able to find a new job and was determined to support her children and further her education.
Millibel decided her next step would be to enroll at Monroe Community College. She felt as though her life turned around at that point. Millibel sought out various opportunities and benefits of attending MCC and received the STAR Power Scholarship as well as the Sara Furguson Scholarship that is designed to help students pursue their passion through their educational journey. With these extra support systems in place, she has been able to become a fully independent single mother. Millibel is expecting to graduate in Spring 2024 and continue with her career in helping students at the elementary school level.
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 Lisa Fluman (lfluman@monroecc.edu) at the MCC Foundation and we will be happy to do so. Thank you again for your generous support!
February 2024
STUDENTS IN THE WELDING AND FABRICATION INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM THE VASANT N. ASGAONKAR SCHOLARSHIP
Created in honor of Vasant Asgaonkar and his dedication to fostering the next generation of skilled tradespeople, the Vasant N. Asgaonkar Scholarship awards two scholarships of $2,500 each year to hard-working students in the Welding and Fabrication Industry Certification program. This program teaches the next generation of welders to have the relevant training necessary to get jobs in the exciting and rewarding field of welding. These scholarship recipients must demonstrate an aptitude for and interest in a welding career. This year's scholarship recipients are Alex Stoffelsma and Jason Campbell.
Alex (pictured top right) is a senior at West Irondequoit High School. He recently received honors for the National Technical Honor Society. He will begin the Welding and Fabrication program this fall and chose this field due to the many job opportunities that it will provide.
Jason (pictured top left) is an adult student, looking to start a new career path. Jason began taking classes in the spring semester and feels a sense of accomplishment and excitement each day he comes to class. He is grateful for this scholarship support that is helping him on this journey. It is a sign that he is right where he should be!
Thank you to Vasant Asgaonkar’s daughter and MCC Foundation Director, Lisa Paulis, and her husband, Richard, for making opportunities available for students like Alex and Jason!
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 40TH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP OPEN PRESENTED BY TOYOTA!
The 40th Annual Scholarship Open will be held at The Country Club of Rochester on Monday, June 24, 2024. This is a sell-out event so do not delay in registering! Tournament Co-Chairs Ed Schuler ’81 and Billy Farmer, along with the Scholarship Open Committee, are planning an excellent day of golf in support of hardworking students at Monroe Community College.
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit the Scholarship Open webpage. As always, thank you for your support of students at MCC!
AN EXTRA DAY TO CARE THIS YEAR
Would you like to take an extra step of care for Monroe Community College students? Leap into action by creating an estate plan and ensuring a lasting legacy with the Monroe Community College Foundation. Using FreeWill’s online estate planning tool, you can utilize the extra day in 2024 to protect the people you love — and support our mission to ensure that all students have the resources they need to be successful at MCC.