NJC scholarship recipients thank donors at appreciation breakfast – Sterling Journal-Advocate
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Northeastern Junior College students who have benefited from a scholarship had a chance to meet and thank those who made their scholarship possible at the NJC Foundation’s annual Scholarship Donor Appreciation Breakfast on Saturday, Sept. 13.
“Today is more than about just having a meal, it’s about celebrating the generosity, the vision and the commitment of everyone in this room,” Bob Carpio, president of the NJC Foundation, said, telling those in the audience, “Each of you play an essential role in the success of the college and because of your support, our young men and women here are able to pursue their education, discover their passions and prepare to step forward with confidence in their chosen occupations.”
“Your investment in the scholarships truly changes lives, and that is very much appreciated,” Carpio said to the donors.
NJC President Mike White noted the record-breaking crowd in attendance and called it a special day to be able to bring students and donors together, something very unique on a college campus.
“For our students, I would challenge you to think about somebody at your table or maybe in the background that chose to believe in you. You may have never met them before today, but they committed, they committed their treasury of their families and their legacies to make sure you have an education going forward and that’s pretty special,” he said.
White also thanked the scholarship donors and noted that, according to the Council on Aid to Education, 41% of undergraduates in the United States attend community college, yet community colleges receive only 1.5% of financial aid.
“I look at that number and I think about how hard we work to keep costs down and it just multiplies the impact you have when you support our students,” he told the donors.
White also mentioned the new Applied Technology Campus building. It is not completely open just yet because they’re still waiting on some furniture and artwork, but he invited the public to a community open house on Oct. 28 to celebrate its official opening.
Following breakfast, attendees heard from three NJC students who have received multiple scholarships.
Austin Harris, recipient of the Fleming Saddle Club and Florence Annan Sophomore Leadership scholarships, is in his third year at NJC and in the last two years, he has been a leading member of Northeastern’s ranch horse team. Over the past three years, he has double majored and completed an associate degree in equine management. Now, he is working on his pre-veterinary degree, with plans to transfer on to Utah State University to finish his degree.
“Many students choose NJC for the athletic programs or the wide variety of educational programs. To level with you guys, I came here because I wanted to ride horses. That being said, that set a fire underneath me and that drive to do what I liked has pushed me so much farther than I ever imagined I could go,” Harris said, adding that without the scholarships he received, “vet school might never have been an option for me. I’m sure as many of you know, college is expensive, vet school is even more expensive. To me, these scholarships mean more than just financial aid; they mean there are people out there who believe in me and who back me and who want me to succeed and for that I am incredibly grateful.”
“I can tell you personally that every single one of the students in this room and across campus are all incredibly grateful for the support that you donors give us,” he said.
Kelbi Schwartz, recipient of the Bank of Colorado AG, TSM Farm LLC, HOPE and COSI grant scholarships, is also in her third year at NJC. She finished her associate’s degree in equine business management last spring and this year is finishing her agribusiness degree, with the goal of transferring to earn a degree in equine bodywork massage therapy.
“Me, as a student, and everybody else in here thank every single one of you for coming and for supporting all of us; it truly means a lot,” Schwartz said to donors, sharing that she is the first generation in her family to earn an associate’s degree. “Your support has really, really pushed me to go even farther in my education. My freshman year, I was about ready to drop out and quit, go work and then thanks to all of you amazing, amazing donors, I’ve been able to continue my education and further my career. Thank you so much for your help and support.”
Kaylin Gesford, recipient of the COSI Grant, Courtney and Lucy Davis and HOPE scholarships, is a sophomore at NJC. She grew up in Westminster and moved to Sterling in 2021, graduating from Sterling High School with all honors. This spring, she will graduate from NJC with an Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in sports management and hopes to move on to a four-year university and earn a bachelor’s degree in sports management. While her career plans aren’t specific yet, she would love to run a facility, manage a professional team, become an agent for professional players or even work internationally.
“I chose NJC, not only because it’s close to home but because it is a fantastic stepping stone for individuals like me to be able to further our education and to build our future,” Gesford said, adding that she is very grateful for the scholarships she has received “because without them I wouldn’t have the opportunity to continue to the education that I have. Thank you for investing in my future.”
If you are interested in creating a scholarship to support an NJC student or donating a smaller amount to support group-funded scholarships, please go to njc.edu/foundation.
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