HANCEVILLE, Ala. – As Wallace State Community College (WSCC) transitions into planning for spring semester, the highly anticipated event of the fall season went off without a hitch on Thursday morning, Nov. 2, 2023. The 19th annual Student Investment Luncheon saw hundreds of donors and benefactors file into Tom Drake Coliseum to place bids and invest in the futures of WSCC students, raising an astonishing and record-setting $373,787.
The luncheon is an opportunity not only to raise funds for future scholarships and endowments, but also for those students who have already received scholarships and endowments to give back to their donors through serving – literally: the servers at the luncheon were students who have benefited from WSCC’s Future Foundation giving and grants. These students also participated in a “cheering section,” raising shakers and poms along with their voices to congratulate winners of live auction bids.
The luncheon featured silent auction items ranging from baked goods, gift baskets, handmade goods and collectors’ items, as well as live auction items like holiday getaways, experiences and handcrafted furniture.
Combining table sponsorships, auction winnings, paddle raises and general giving, this year’s luncheon raised an astounding $373,787 to pour back into students attending WSCC. According to WSCC President Dr. Vicki Karolewics, the record-breaking amount seems par for the course for the college this year as it rides the high of other record-setting achievements.
“It has been a record-setting year for Wallace State. Record enrollment, recognition as a Top 150 Community College by the Aspen Institute and another record for fundraising through our annual Student Investment Luncheon,” said Karolewics, expressing that while WSCC’s mission is to improve the community as a whole through education, the luncheon makes education more accessible to students who otherwise might not have the means.
“Our faculty and staff pour into our students to develop them into talented professionals. When our community invests so heavily in our students, it transforms not only their lives, but the lives of their families for generations to come. Our mission is to provide learning that transforms lives and communities,” she said.
“This kind of generous giving enables us to do just that, one valuable life at a time,” she continued. “We are eternally grateful to our Future Foundation board members and to our very generous donors.”
To learn more about the scholarships managed by WSCC’s Future Foundation along with requirements and application periods, visit https://wallacestate.academicworks.com.
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