Sponsor a grad!

For the past few years, we have asked for your help in meeting a couple of goals that were put in place for commencement. We wanted to increase the number of students that participated in the commencement ceremony, and we wanted to have faculty and staff sponsor 100 graduates by providing them a cap and gown. Thanks to many of you, we achieved both of those goals and we actually had a record number of graduates process last year at commencement.

Once again, this year, we want to make sure that every graduate that wants to participate is able to.  We know that many students have told us that they are not able to participate in the commencement ceremony due to the cost of the cap and gown. As an institution committed to the success of our students, commencement is our time to celebrate the greatest success of all with our students – COMPLETION! And, I can think of no better way to celebrate the individual success of our graduates than by removing this one final financial barrier for our students – $31 to purchase their cap and gown.

Know that our students are overwhelmed when they hear that a GRCC faculty or staff member’s donation made it possible for them to participate in this important life event, an event that for many of these students, is the first such event in the history of their family!

To follow is a student quote highlighting the impact of this gift for her last year:

“I would like to first say thank you all for making graduation a blessing and fun! I would not have been able to walk with pride and joy on graduation day! I was actually hit by a car the week before graduation and all of the GRCC staff made me glad I came, they never once made me feel like a burden. I was only working part-time and did not have enough money for my cap and gown. The staff at GRCC helped me out with a cap and gown and I was able to return the gown for the next person. I felt truly blessed attending GRCC. Keep on doing an awesome job! Continue to let your staff keep blessing others like me! Thank you from the heart!” Earnette Wrancher, class of 2016.

And, here is a quote from a GRCC staff member highlighting why he gave to the Sponsor a Grad program last year:

“I remembered how I felt when I walked across the stage when graduating from Thames Valley State Technical College with my A.S. many moons ago and it felt natural to help ensure graduates aren’t denied the same experience for want of enough money to obtain their cap and gown.” Michael Passer, IT Enterprise Director

Please help us reward our students who have reached their graduation goals and participate in the Sponsor a Grad program today.

If you are interested in helping us, I ask that you commit to our Sponsor a Grad program – through your sponsorship, you agree to purchase a cap and gown for a graduate at the cost of $31 per set.

Know that there is no limit to the number of graduates you sponsor. You can make your donation by simply going online to make your payment. Or if you prefer, and would like to make a donation using a different payment method, you are welcome to contact the Foundation Office directly at x3939.

Thank you for all you do in support of our students and their success.