Scholarship Donors

Scholarships Make the Difference

In the 21st Century, more than 80% of new jobs will require an education beyond high school. The vitality of Camden County's economy, in many ways, will depend on Camden County College's ability to provide a highly skilled work force capable of supporting economic growth and attracting new industry. Unfortunately, at a time when more and more people of all ages need to develop sophisticated skills to qualify for jobs in growth industries, college costs are rising, leaving many deserving and qualified Camden County residents unable to afford post-secondary education.

The average cost for tuition, fees and books for a full-time Camden County College student is $2,400 per year.

As college costs have risen, median family income has remained relatively stagnant, growing just 5%. As a result, a larger share of total family income is required to meet college costs. This is true for all income levels. -- National Center for Education Statistics.

Declining public support has placed an increased financial burden on students. While the federal government's Pell Grant program enables hundreds of the most needy of our students to gain the benefits of a post -secondary education, there is never sufficient funding available to meet the needs of all students.

Although faced with real financial needs as a result of unemployment, changes in family status, or illness, many current and prospective students fail to meet the qualifications for federal programs. In addition, the real need for students from middle income families is often overlooked forcing students into expensive loan programs. Trends indicate that many students are foregoing college opportunities rather than risk their futures on expensive loan repayments.

Scholarships Change Lives

The Camden County College Foundation private scholarship program provides educational opportunities to hundreds of deserving Camden County College students. Established and supported by individuals, companies, clubs and organizations, private scholarships have the power to change lives and enhance the quality of life in Camden County and the Delaware Valley Region.

The value of a college education more than offsets the cost. In 1990, the average monthly income of college graduates was double that of high school graduates. The salaries of college graduates also increase faster than those of high school graduates. -- U.S. Census Bureau

Generous community support resulted in 98 Camden County College students receiving scholarships totaling more than $63,000 for the current school year-students who were not qualified for federal or state aid. Though impressive, the unmet need is much greater than current resources.

You Can Make A Difference

Establishing a named scholarship is an easy and meaningful way to honor or memorialize a loved one or friend, and give the gift of higher education . The Foundation welcomes two kinds of scholarships:

Endowed named Scholarships (minimum $15,000)

When an individual or organization establishes an endowed scholarship, the gift is set aside as principal to be invested in perpetuity. Only the income from the principle is distributed as scholarship awards. Endowed scholarships may be paid in equal annual installments. The larger the principal, the greater the number of scholarships awarded.

Endowed scholarships are encouraged because they are a perpetual tribute in honor or memory of a loved one. For organizations, they provide perpetual support for students attending the College and allow the organization to turn their interests and dollars to other worthwhile community needs.

General Endownment Scholarships (recommended minimum $1,000)

Award Criteria

The Camden County College Scholarship Committee selects student recipients based on criteria established by the donor. Criteria can include program interest, residency, financial need and/or merit, and grade point average. Foundation staff is available to assist donors when establishing criteria.

Foundation Scholarship donation form (.pdf format)

Financial Management

Foundation funds are supervised by the Investment/Finance Committee of the Camden County College Foundation, Inc. An independent audit of the Foundation's books is performed annually, and a copy of the latest report is available upon request. The Foundation maintains two investment portfolios to manage its assets. Rorer Asset Management of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Rittenhouse Trust Company hold the Foundation's portfolios.

The Camden County College Foundation welcomes gift to the scholarship program, and invites you to make a difference in a student's life. The Foundation staff welcomes questions you may have about the private scholarship program, and is available to assist you in establishing a scholarship or you can download the Scholarship agreement form (Adobe Acrobat format) and mail to Camden County College Foundation, P.O. Box 200 Blackwood, NJ 08012. Please contact the Foundation Office for further information by calling 856.227.7200, ext. 4258, or email wthompson@camdencc.edu.