17
November
2022
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21:48 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

Del Mar College Foundation’s 2022 Scholarship Reception Brings Recipients and Donors Face-to-Face

More than $1.7 million from both scholarships and designated outside awards combined currently impacting over 955 DMC students this academic year

Article by Melinda Eddleman

Scholarships can be life-changing. Getting the chance to share how a scholarship is making a student’s dream possible through education is priceless.

On Nov. 15, during the Del Mar College Foundation’s 2022 Scholarship Reception on the Windward Campus, both DMC students and donors met face-to-face so that scholarship beneficiaries could meet their benefactors to share personal stories and show appreciation for their support. Donors included individuals who gave directly to the DMC Foundation as well as those representing outside organizations that have awarded scholarships to DMC students.

The event, which included dinner service, was the first Scholarship Reception that the Foundation has held in-person since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Foundation’s Scholarship Reception is one of the most meaningful experiences that our supporters and students enjoy, and we’re happy to now have the opportunity to bring them together in-person, again,” said Matthew Busby, DMC Associate Vice President of Development. “Giving our Foundation Scholars the chance to meet and exchange stories with the individuals and organizations supporting their education allows these DMC students to demonstrate the impact that scholarships provide while they complete their studies and face life’s other challenges that might otherwise keep them from reaching their goals without receiving scholarship support.”

For the current academic year (2022-2023), the Foundation has awarded over $1.5 million to over 801 students supported by 300 donors over the past year as well as processed over $236,490 in designated awards to 153 students with that funding coming from external organizations. Overall, over 955 DMC students received a combined $1.77 million in support for their education at Del Mar College.

Among the donors who attended the reception were Tim and Cyndy Legamaro. In April, they donated $1 million in appreciated stock to establish and support the Legamaro Family Endowed Scholarship, which is the largest scholarship donation targeting first-generation students that the Foundation has ever received.

The couple joined Foundation Board President C. Michelle Unda and Legamaro Scholarship recipient and DMC alumna Brittany Jones for a Q&A session covered the importance of philanthropy, the impact that scholarships have on students’ lives, the motivation to support scholarships and personal stories related to the outcomes that giving generates for DMC students and the communities where they live.

The Legamaros noted that homelessness in the community is a key factor for their giving and one of the main causes they support in addition to education. Cyndy expressed, “We believe that education is the key to preventing or eliminating homelessness.”

Jones is a May 2022 DMC graduate who completed her studies in the College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program and spoke during the April 2022 announcement as one of the first recipients of the  Legamaro Scholarship. Currently, she works in pediatric occupational therapy with a local hospital.

“As a student, I was 100% dependent on financial aid and appreciated how my Legamaro Scholarship helped me continue to pursue my goals,” said Jones. “I want my donors to know that I’m grateful for their support and their recognizing my perseverance as a student because returning to school was a very daunting task, but I’m glad I chose to pursue my education.” 

She added, “I wish to help others reach their goals in the future and to encourage them to keep going despite difficulties. Thank you so much to the Legamaros for their support!”

Sponsors of the Nov. 15 reception were CITGO as Presenting Sponsor, along with in-kind donations from Eddie’s Restaurant, Pepsi Cola Bottling Company and Black Tie Roses. 

reminder finger

Beginning Feb. 1, 2023, the Foundation will start taking scholarship applications for the next academic year, which is 2023-2024.

To learn more about the Foundation either as a scholarship applicant or a donor, visit www.delmar.edu/foundation or contact the DMC Office of Development at 361-698-1317 or foundation@delmar.edu.

 

 

About Del Mar College

Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.