OJC Press Release ID: 2476

Monday, February 29, 2016

OJC announces COSI Scholarship matching challenge

A chance to see your donation go twice as far

Otero Junior College Foundation, in conjunction with the Colorado Community College System Foundation, is eligible to receive $12,615 in matching funds through the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative. In 2014, the Governor and General Assembly created the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative with the goal of establishing a statewide network of scholarship programs.

To receive the COSI funds, OJC must match the amount with $12,615 in new or increased scholarship contributions.
The COSI matching grant enables an individual’s gift to go twice as far, helping twice as many deserving students. Approximately 18 new scholarships, for both degree and certificate seeking OJC students, will be created and each student will receive an award between $1,300 and $1,500.

COSI scholarships are intended for Colorado residents who have lower incomes, with preference given to minority and first-generation college students. The matching funds for this challenge must come from new donors, lapsed donors or increased donations from current donors.

The Scholarship Initiative will help ensure that students are not just given financial support to gain access to higher education degree and certificate programs, but they are also given the tools necessary to succeed and earn a postsecondary degree or certificate.

Scholarship awardees must engage in OJC’s rigorous TRiO student support success program including orientation, career and academic advising and financial aid advising.

This 1:1 match with state funds will be used to fund scholarships for tuition assistance which will cover the cost of tuition, books and fees. This scholarship is a last dollar in program so Pell and other federal and state supports will be applied first.

To take advantage of this opportunity to have your dollars go twice as far to helping Colorado students, contact Sue Samaniego at 719-384-6821 or susan.samaniego@ojc.edu or visit the donation page on our website: http://www.ojc.edu/about/supportojc/foundation_give.aspx .

The Otero Junior College Foundation has $12,615 in matching dollars through the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative to support scholarships for Colorado residents with lower incomes. OJC must match the amount with $12,615 in donations from new donors, lapsed donors or increased donations from current donors. To take advantage of this opportunity to have your dollars go twice as far to helping Colorado students, contact Sue Samaniego at 719-384-6821 or visit the donation page on the OJC website: http://www.ojc.edu/about/supportojc/foundation_give.aspx .