Among the items discussed at the Oct. 21 meeting of the Navajo County Community College Governing Board was a presentation by Betsyann Wilson for the Northland Pioneer College Friends and Family, formerly known as the NPC Foundation.
Wilson, who is program director of the organization, reported that NPC Friends and Family has been making great strides in providing financial assistance through grants and scholarships for students attending NPC.
She reported that the large commercial building owned by the organization on Hopi Drive in Holbrook was recently sold to Community Counseling Centers of Arizona, alleviating concerns of what to do with the empty building once the lease with NPC expires in 2015.
Wilson stated that the 11,000-square foot building had been purchased for $230,000, money that will now go to fund the organization. Two hundred thousand dollars of that amount will go into an interest bearing account and the balance will go in an operations account,” explained Wilson. The remaining balance will fund four projects, including Pedal the Petrified and the annual golf tournament. “We have two others that are still being worked out,” she added. Each of those events raise funds for student scholarships.
Wilson also informed the board that three new grants are now available to students attending the college. The first is a Leg Up grant in the amount of $500 for students who are not eligible for Pell grants, but have college financial need. The other is a Fill the Gap grant in the amount of $500 for students who are eligible for Pell grants, but still have unmet needs for college. There will be two of each of those grants available each semester, one for a campus and another for a center.
The third grant is for $1,000 for four students each semester that would cover unforeseen circumstances. Wilson explained that a week after approving this grant it was put to use when a student’s car was broken into and among the items taken were his textbooks. “We were able to use those funds to replace his books so that he could continue with his education uninterrupted,” she noted.
Wilson also stated that representatives from both Holbrook and Winslow have been added to the Friends and Family board, and, thanks to the technological capabilities of the college, meetings can be held through audio communications at each campus simultaneously.
“On top of all this great news, we are still doing grant writing to help fund these endeavors,” concluded Wilson.
Members of the board indicated they were pleased with Wilson’s work and the efforts being made to ensure that those who want to attend the college are not hindered by financial restrictions.
By Linda Kor
Among the items discussed at the Oct. 21 meeting of the Navajo County Community College Governing Board was a presentation by Betsyann Wilson for the Northland Pioneer College Friends and Family, formerly known as the NPC Foundation.
Wilson, who is program director of the organization, reported that NPC Friends and Family has been making great strides in providing financial assistance through grants and scholarships for students attending NPC.
She reported that the large commercial building owned by the organization on Hopi Drive in Holbrook was recently sold to Community Counseling Centers of Arizona, alleviating concerns of what to do with the empty building once the lease with NPC expires in 2015.
Wilson stated that the 11,000-square foot building had been purchased for $230,000, money that will now go to fund the organization. Two hundred thousand dollars of that amount will go into an interest bearing account and the balance will go in an operations account,” explained Wilson. The remaining balance will fund four projects, including Pedal the Petrified and the annual golf tournament. “We have two others that are still being worked out,” she added. Each of those events raise funds for student scholarships.
Wilson also informed the board that three new grants are now available to students attending the college. The first is a Leg Up grant in the amount of $500 for students who are not eligible for Pell grants, but have college financial need. The other is a Fill the Gap grant in the amount of $500 for students who are eligible for Pell grants, but still have unmet needs for college. There will be two of each of those grants available each semester, one for a campus and another for a center.
The third grant is for $1,000 for four students each semester that would cover unforeseen circumstances. Wilson explained that a week after approving this grant it was put to use when a student’s car was broken into and among the items taken were his textbooks. “We were able to use those funds to replace his books so that he could continue with his education uninterrupted,” she noted.
Wilson also stated that representatives from both Holbrook and Winslow have been added to the Friends and Family board, and, thanks to the technological capabilities of the college, meetings can be held through audio communications at each campus simultaneously.
“On top of all this great news, we are still doing grant writing to help fund these endeavors,” concluded Wilson.
Members of the board indicated they were pleased with Wilson’s work and the efforts being made to ensure that those who want to attend the college are not hindered by financial restrictions.
