Collin College Foundation Chairman Ron Johnson congratulates a scholarship recipient student.

More than 300 Collin College scholarship recipients sat in a packed house amongst their benefactors, professors, family and friends at the Collin College 2007 scholarship award ceremony (view a photo gallery from the event here).

This year the Collin College Foundation awarded more than $260,000 in scholarship funds, the highest number of scholarships and the highest amount of scholarship funding awarded in the history of the college. In addition, the college awarded the first-ever transfer scholarship to Collin College graduate Melinda Archacki. The funds will allow Archacki to pursue a bachelor’s degree at The University of Texas at Dallas, one of the college’s eight special admissions partners.

The Lebrecht-Hites endowed transfer scholarship is comprised of a $100,000 gift from the Hites Family Foundation based in St. Louis, Missouri matched with $50,000 from the Royden Lebrecht estate. Both donors are recognized as lifetime members of the Legacy Guild, a prestigious segment of the Collin College Foundation.

According to Collin College President, Cary A. Israel, the new transfer scholarship demonstrates the college’s dedication to student success.

“This is the first time that we have been able to fund higher education beyond our doors. Thanks to major donors Hites and Lebrecht, we can assure that our students will not only earn associates degrees but will have the funding to earn bachelors’ degrees and continue their academic journey. To attend college today, many students are forced to work multiple jobs to pay for classes and textbooks. We initiated this transfer scholarship fund to support our outstanding students who are in dire need of financial assistance,” Israel said.

Archacki has participated in the Student Leadership Academy, served as an officer in Collin’s Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Delta honor societies, built houses with Habitat for Humanity and welcomed home the troops.

“I would like to express my appreciation to the late Royden Lebrecht and the Hites Family Foundation. It is an honor to receive the first transfer scholarship. I returned to college in the summer of 2005 after celebrating my fortieth birthday. I had support from students and faculty who encouraged me to keep on keeping on. To each professor that I shared class with I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Archacki said.

Collin College transfer scholarship students must have a 3.5 GPA, 50 credit hours, be accepted and enrolled as a full-time student at a regionally accredited four-year educational institution leading to a baccalaureate degree, demonstrate financial need and have participated in community service and civic engagement. Scholarships are re-awarded for a second year with continued good academic standing.

According to Ron Johnson, current Board chair, a five-year Collin College Foundation board member and previous chair of the investment committee, college debt is plaguing college students.

“More and more families are finding it difficult to pay for tuition, food, housing and books. Students are using credit cards, and studies show that many students graduate with more than $20,000 in debt. Some students defer important studies, such as medical school, and choose careers that are not their passions. Students are able to fulfill their dreams because our donors have a zeal for higher education. These scholarships truly help students fulfill their dreams. As chair of the Foundation, I pledge that I will work to increase scholarships,” Johnson said.

As the first-ever transfer scholarship recipient and a nontraditional student, Archacki is especially grateful for the financial assistance that will allow her to work toward her goal of becoming a middle school counselor.

“I have had a scholarly journey at this remarkable institution; Collin College offers life education. I continue my education knowing I have the support of Collin College, and I promise I will make the college proud. I will take Collin College and the Hites Foundation with me for the rest of my life,” Archacki said.

For more information about scholarships, contact Mary Frazier, executive director for major gifts at 972.599.3143 or visit the website at http://foundation.ccccd.org/scholarships.html.