Contents.
We’ve
Meet
BIG Impact
A
A
igist Berhe is a Nursing student at Spokane Community College who is truly the heart of her communities.
As she puts it, her journey began as an ESL student when she first came to the U.S. After accomplishing that, she became a Certified Nursing assistant, and then later a phlebotomist, all at SCC.
“These experiences showed me how rewarding it is to care for others and inspired me to continue my education to become a registered nurse,” Nigist said.
Her education and focus on caring for others won’t end when she graduates this summer, though. She dreams of becoming a Nurse Practitioner and earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
“I want to work in underserved communities, providing accessible, patient-centered care while educating and empowering individuals to live healthier lives.”
It’s clear Nigist will be dedicated in her goals and to her community. For example, she is supporting her family here in Spokane, as well as sending financial support to her family in Ethiopia.
“In our tradition, when one succeeds, they support their parents and siblings,” Nigist said.
Her responsibilities can be challenging at times, but they can also be motivating.
“The belief that I am building a brighter future for my children and family is my strongest motivator. Despite the financial and emotional challenges, I remind myself of the long-term benefits of my hard work.”
IMPACT IN ALL OF HER COMMUNITIES
While Nigist is the heart of her community, we believe that everyone deserves that kind of support. That’s why we’re so proud to call Nigist one of our scholarship awardees. Nigist called her scholarship an opportunity and a lifeline.
“For me, it has meant the chance to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse and to support my family without compromising my studies.”
To donors, she added, “Your generosity creates ripples of change, not just for students, but for the communities we will serve in the future.”
his winter, the colleges and Foundation started fresh with a new brand. Same mission, same work, even the same mascot, but with a brand-new look.
I’m very excited about what this brand will help us achieve, as well as what it helps us showcase. Our students are smart, responsible, and prepared. And, like our Sasquatch, they’re pretty legendary.
450
In the following pages, you’ll see both our new brand and our student stories featured. It was an exciting year, and I’m so happy to share this review with you.
Best,
Heather Beebe-Stevens
STUDENTS GIVEN EMERGENCY AID AWARDS
244
STUDENTS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS
$586,207
AWARDED IN SCHOLARSHIP AND EMERGENCY AID PROGRAM
$243,599
REVENUE EXPENSES
TOTAL REVENUE
$6,755,114
INVESTMENT INCOME: Income from investments
PROPERTY INCOME: Income received from tenants at Foundationowned buildings
DONATIONS: Monetary gifts from Donors
IN-KIND DONATIONS: Non-monetary gifts from Donors
ADMIN FEES/MISC: Income from 2.5% administrative fee on restricted gifts and miscellaneous
TOTAL EXPENSES
$3,176,692
OPERATIONS: Expenses related to operating the Foundation
PROGRAMS: Money spent on CCS students and programs
DEVELOPMENT: Expenses related to raising donations and in-kind donations
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: The cost of running Foundationowned buildings
LEGENDARY Focus D
MEET DANIEL BAILEY, A SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT WITH EYES ON THE SKY
aniel Bailey always has a plan. And isn’t that exactly what you want from your future Aviation Maintenance Technician?
He grew up on the westside with parents who worked on aircrafts in the military. He thought about taking the same route to the skies, but he ended up choosing the civilian path. Daniel moved to the eastside of the state to be closer to family in Idaho and Montana and joined Spokane Community College.
Aviation and mechanics are more than career interests; they’re his passions.
“I almost have my pilot license,” Daniel said. “And I like mechanics as a hobby. I’ll work on cars, lawnmowers, anything really.”
After school, he would like to get a local job in general aviation.
“With general aviation, you do all sorts of different stuff. I like that my work would be different each day. One
day I’m working on a puddle-jumper, then the next a private plane.”
When he finishes at SCC, he’ll have two certificates: one in Air Frame and another in Power Plant. It’s been a lot of work, but he likes the challenge of his classes.
Balancing work and school can be stressful though, especially last year. Daniel’s living situation had changed, and suddenly he was paying three times more in rent.
“I was concerned about paying my way through school. I used savings, worked all summer, and I work as much as I can now. But the scholarship has been really amazing because it lets me focus more on school.”
He’s already ready to test for one of his certificates thanks to his planning and dedication! When asked what his advice is for other students, Daniel said the following:
“Figure out where you want to go, what you want to do, and why you want to do that specifically. And have a plan for once you leave for that next step.
BELIEVE
In your dreams
But the scholarship has been really amazing because it lets me focus more on school.
’ve been involved with theatre since high school, but my dream of that got ruined when I was younger,” Patty explained.
Patty Garegnani ended up not being able to graduate high school because she had to be out on her own early on. She earned her GED and worked hard to get into a four-year university to study theatre in her early 20s. However, financial aid didn’t work out.
She pivoted and took classes, including a theatrical make-up class. That got her into cosmetology, which she did for a long time. She was living in San Diego at the time, and her cosmetology work led her into fashion design. She went back to school, in part thanks to scholarships, and made a name for herself as the President of the Fashion Club. She balanced school and finding out she was pregnant before she became a full-time mom to two daughters. Soon, she and her family left San Diego and moved to Spokane. No matter how busy she became, Patty always kept her love of theatre and design.
“I made costume for my kids,” she said. And she joined the theatre community in Spokane.
“I say community, but it’s more like theatre family,” Patty explained. “We root for each other.”
She decided to go back to school and join SFCC’s Theatre program, where she focuses on costume design. She creates costumes for the Spartan Theatre and is also the Resident Costume Designer at Stage Left Theatre here in Spokane. She’ll finish her degree this year, with accolades across her education career like being an honor roll student and winning awards and achievements like the Kennedy Center Award for costuming and acting.
When she images herself graduating in theatre, she almost starts crying. “I’m 50 years old and can’t believe I’m going to have a degree in theatre!”
MEET PATTY, WHO NEVER GAVE UP ON HER DREAM OF COSTUME DESIGN
LOCAL Alums
At the Spokane Colleges Foundation, we often say that our alumni build our local communities. They’re the folks you interact with every day, working hard to achieve their dreams and make our community better. Our alums are the heart of our region, using their passion and education to build our community. When we invest in our students, they will in turn invest in our community.
LIKE JULIA: AND BRI:
Julia earned her GED and her Direct Transfer degree from Spokane Community College.
Now, she’s the one giving back, studying, volunteering, and working in our local community.
Spokane Colleges Foundation helped me achieve my dreams by providing support through teachers and peers and work-study at the financial aid office at Spokane Community College.
Bri studied agriculture business at SCC.
When she graduated and transferred to Montana State University’s College of Agriculture, she said it was her education at SCC that helped her get ahead.
After graduating MSU, she decided to return home to Spokane, and she was glad she did.
Now she supports that community through her writing. Bri is a contributor for the Black Lens News, a nonprofit news organization published daily online and monthly in print.
It allowed me to get more involved and see how our city is growing.
Want to catch up on all of our alumni stories? Visit our website! www.ccsfoundation.org/news
And keep an eye out this spring for features on our inaugural Alumni Awards!
INCREDIBLE
Futures
MEET SARAH, A STUDENT WHO IS BUILDING AN INCREDIBLE LIFE FOR HERSELF AND HER DAUGHTER.
NSarah Breshears is a Surgical Technology student at Spokane Community College, preparing to graduate this June. In her previous career, she was a veterinary technician who often worked in surgery. That’s how she knew a career in surgical tech would be the right fit for her future. When deciding to go back to school, she thought of SCC. After all, her dad is an alum!
“I felt SCC offered the most valuable education for a 30-something single parent that has to balance school, work, and home into their life,” Sarah said.
Her choice of school and program allow her to balance her two passions: taking care of people in her community and taking care of her daughter. That same balance is why she calls Surgical Tech her dream career.
The program is challenging, with students needing to learn instrumentation, how each instrument works, and when it is used. Her love for her daughter is what keeps Sarah motivated.
“I want to be able to provide her with the things she needs and wants.”
Sarah sets high expectations for herself as a student and mother, but when she graduates, she’ll be able to honor both.
Keeping a balance between school and personal lives is one of the reasons our donors are so dedicated to our students. Sarah received one of our Foundation scholarships because our community believed in her and her future.
“A scholarship is a generous gift from people who understand the importance of an education and recognize how difficult it can be to achieve those
goals that students set for themselves,” Sarah shared. “It allows for some flexibility with work and school to prevent students getting burnt out and not succeeding in their education.”
We know that Sarah will complete all the goals she sets for herself, taking care of her work, her community, and her family.