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Helping students soar higher

Employee Giving at âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Changes Lives

At Laramie County Community College, the dedication of faculty and staff to enriching the lives of students extends beyond the classroom. The Employee Giving Campaign exemplifies their unwavering commitment to student success, addressing the pivotal challenge of college affordability. 

The financial hurdle that impedes many students from pursuing higher education finds a formidable opponent in âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ's Employee Giving Campaign. Through this initiative, faculty and staff actively contribute to providing vital financial assistance. The campaign allows them to choose specific areas of support, tailoring their impact to directly benefit students. 

From bolstering Pathway Scholarships to sustaining existing donor-funded scholarships that span diverse demographics and programs, the Employee Giving Campaign serves as a conduit for targeted generosity. The flexibility of the âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Foundation Excellence Fund further ensures that resources can be directed to areas of greatest need, be it scholarships, program requirements, or essential equipment. 

Adding a layer of empowerment, the âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Foundation facilitates decision-making for contributors, aiding them in identifying scholarships or funds aligned with their interests. Matching Funds, a testament to community collaboration, amplify the impact of individual contributions, effectively doubling the support directed towards endowed funds. 

For both new and existing Employee Givers, the incentive to increase monthly payroll deductions brings an added dimension to their philanthropic endeavors. With the âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Foundation matching any increase, a simple gesture like augmenting a $5/month commitment 
transforms into a more substantial contribution, making a lasting impact on endowed scholarships and programs. 

As the Employee Giving Campaign unfolds, it stands as a testament to the collective dedication of âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ's faculty and staff, fostering a culture where inspired learning not only transforms lives but also breaks down financial barriers to education. 

Just ask Ian Caldon, Spanish instructor, and Lori Arnold, Respiratory Therapy Program director.  

Ian Caldon 

Caldon, a long-time faculty member, helped establish the Pastora San Juan-Cafferty Memorial Scholarship in his grandmother’s honor. As a first-generation college student who benefited from financial aid in scholarships in his own academic journey, Caldon said he knows the value of helping students with their financial concerns.  

What makes you feel like it’s an important initiative to contribute to students’ academic journeys by making an employee contribution at âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ?  Plain and simple...the students! When you read the personal statements and the needs and challenges each and every recipient has every year, it’s amazing to see how much any contribution helps them in their pursuit of a degree here at âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ. 

How does the Employee Giving Campaign contribute to the overall sense of community at âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ?  It recognizes the needs students have, as well as employees’ ability to help out. It doesn’t have to be much, but anything and everything can help these students in need, and this is evident in their testimonies. 

What advice would you give to colleagues or peers who are considering participating in the Employee Giving Campaign?  You don’t even necessarily need to start up a scholarship as I did. There are several meaningful scholarships that already exist and, no doubt, in an area of your interest and passion — start there! The smallest donation will make a huge difference! 

Lori Arnold  

As the program director for the developing Respiratory Therapy Program at âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ, Arnold is newer to âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ than Caldon. But, like her colleague, she is a first-generation student whose personal experiences inform how she views Employee Giving at the college. 

Did you or anyone you care about benefit from scholarships and financial aid while attending college?  My eldest son received a full-ride scholarship for first-generation bachelor’s degree students.  At the time of his scholarship, neither my husband nor myself had a bachelor’s degree. He was able to complete his undergraduate program completely financed through scholarships. This opportunity enabled him to move forward and become a doctor of chiropractic medicine. Along with the undergraduate scholarship, he received scholarships to attend chiropractic school.  Without the first-generation scholarship offered by that institution, my son would not have been able to achieve his dream of becoming a chiropractor.  

How do your life experiences inform your understanding of how important financial support is for students going to college?  So often students feel like they cannot accomplish their career dreams without financial assistance.  I wish someone would have explained to me the financial opportunities that are available to further education and career opportunities when I was a new graduate out of high school.  I know that without financial assistance, I would not be where I am today.  After my son received his opportunity to attend college, I decided to pursue my education further and was able to secure aid.  I am so grateful for the assistance that I received and that my sons have received.