A few passing clouds. Low near 80F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..
A few passing clouds. Low near 80F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.
Updated: July 28, 2025 @ 8:44 pm
July 28, 2025
Warren Nichols
Helen Castellanos Brewer
Travis Magliolo
Warren Nichols
Helen Castellanos Brewer
Travis Magliolo
DICKINSON
After a city board opted out of a program that allowed almost 200 local high school graduates to attend College of the Mainland for free, the college’s former president is providing short-term financial assistance.
Former College of the Mainland President Warren Nichols and his wife, Chris, on Monday announced they would provide scholarship support for incoming Dickinson Opening Doors Promise Scholarship-eligible students, but the college still is in search of long-term solutions.
The Nichols during the Board of Trustees’ Monday meeting committed a portion of their general scholarship fund, established during Nichols’ presidency, to help cover any remaining tuition after all other financial aid has been applied.
Their contribution will allow new Dickinson Promise-eligible students to register for 12 credit hours in both fall 2025 and spring 2026, meeting the full-time enrollment requirement of the scholarship, the college said.
“Chris and I believe deeply in the mission of College of the Mainland and in the young people of Dickinson,” Nichols said. “When we learned that some students might not be able to enroll because of lost funding, we knew we had to step in.
“This is about keeping a promise to students who are doing their part to pursue a better future.”
College representatives on June 26 offered the Dickinson Management District three options for continuing to fund the Opening Doors Promise Scholarship: $105,000 to fund about 67 students for one year; $315,000 to fund about 200 students for three years; or $525,000 to support roughly 334 students over five years.
The district declined all three, saying there aren’t enough funds in the budget to finance the scholarships and that the city attorney raised issue with the program’s eligibility to legally receive money through the district.
College of the. Mainland President Helen Brewer, who succeeded Nichols on July 1, said while the Nichols’ generosity provides “much-needed time and breathing room,” it isn’t a long-term solution.
“This gift is a lifeline for students who were left in limbo through no fault of their own,” Brewer said. “Our goal remains the same — to sustain the Dickinson Opening Doors Promise Scholarship in a way that honors its original purpose and impact.”
The College of the Mainland Foundation is actively engaging with public entities, local donors and civic leaders to identify sustainable funding pathways, the college said. Other Promise Scholarship programs are funded through a combination of municipal, economic development, education foundation and philanthropic partnerships.
Diane Burkett, executive director of marketing and public affairs for the college, on Monday said the college is still “hopeful” the city of Dickinson can be a funding option moving forward.
This is in spite of comments from Mayor Travis Magliolo last week during a city council meeting where he alluded to the college mismanaging program funds.
A Dickinson resident at a July 22 city council meeting sought answers about why the program was no longer being funded, calling it an “empty promise.”
In his response, Magliolo said it’s against the law for the Dickinson Management District, which is charged with using sales tax revenue to promote economic development and commercial investment, to fund the program.
“COM has every ability to run their own foundation and fundraise for their promise that they made; not the city of Dickinson; not the DMD; not the education foundation,” Magliolo said.
“So if you have a problem with the Promise program, like I told your son, what I would like you to do is go talk to COM, their president, and understand that they mismanaged the funds, and that’s why the promise is being lied to.”
Magliolo on Monday said the slightly heated exchange stemmed from him privately having talked with the son of the resident the day prior, explaining to him the reasons why the district could no longer fund the program.
The remarks got the attention of the college, which on Friday issued a statement “to provide clarification” about comments made by Magliolo at the July 22 meeting.
Brewer said the college is “genuinely concerned” by the recent statements from the mayor regarding the scholarship program.
“We understand that budget decisions can be challenging for all public entities,” Brewer said. “Our primary concern is ensuring that Dickinson students who are counting on this support can continue their education.”
In the Friday statement, the college addressed the financial stewardship of the funds provided by the district for the program.
The college administered the fund with “careful attention to the agreement’s requirements,” saying 100 percent of the funds provided directly supported scholarships for eligible Dickinson students and no administrative or overhead fees were charged by the college or its foundation.
“While we would have preferred to address any concerns privately with him, we felt it was essential to provide our community with clear and accurate information about how the program has always operated,” Brewer said. “I have tried to reach the mayor by both email and phone to offer this important clarification, and I am still hopeful for an opportunity to discuss this directly.”
Burkett said Brewer attempted to contact Magliolo on July 23 and, to her knowledge, Brewer as of Monday hasn’t made contact with him.
Magliolo on Monday said he values the college and wants to build a relationship to help as much as possible.
“I talked to a couple people, and we’re actually trying to get COM and myself, are trying to get on the same page where we can slow our lives down so we can actually sit down for a meeting, so I can let them know exactly what I was explaining to this parent.
“It was a very short-formed comment, so I had to keep it very brief, so I couldn’t explain everything.
“There’s no bad blood between me and COM,” Magliolo said. “I’m not trying to start a war with them by any means. If anything, I’m trying to actually find a better solution.
“If I can help in any way, find other donors or help champion the thing, I will absolutely give them my time. I just can’t give them our taxpayer dollars right now.”
Lauren Frick: 409-683-5230; lauren.frick@galvnews.com
Warren Nichols
Helen Castellanos Brewer
Travis Magliolo
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