WC Foundation reports banner year to college board of trustees
Brent Baker, executive director of the Weatherford College Foundation, provided an update on the foundation's status to the WC Board of Trustees at their April meeting on Thursday.
The foundation provided a record-setting $564,930 in scholarships to WC students in the 2022-23 academic year, shattering the previous record of $387,787 set the previous year.
85 percent of WC’s students received aid in 2023, including scholarships, federal financial aid and other sources. That compared with 77 percent of the students in a comparison group of similar institutions in a recent national data report.
Baker said the recent success in scholarship funding is due to the foundation’s donors.
“Your college has some very consistent and generous donors,” Baker said. “Your college and foundation are helping more students than ever before.”
The foundation received 255 gifts in calendar year 2023, with an average of $1,844 per gift.
In addition to scholarships, the foundation maintains a student emergency fund, provides faculty and staff recognitions and helps to cover the cost of other special projects.
Several annual events, including Taste of Parker County April 18th, a golf tournament, a scholarship donor appreciation dinner, and the Coyote Chase Race, are held to raise funds and boost the WC Foundation's visibility.
In other business, the board:
- Approved the minutes from the March 7 meetings.
- Approved the financial reports ending March 31.
- Approved a contract proposal from Spectrum Enterprise for managed student wireless internet for Vickie and Jerry Durant Hall.
- Received written reports from WC Wise County, academics and student services.
In his President’s Report, Dr. Tod Allen Farmer:
- Highlighted WC’s recent transfer agreement signing ceremony with The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.
- Congratulated men’s head basketball coach Chris Lewis on his team's 9-5 conference finish, good for second place and a spot in the NJCAA Region V Tournament.
- Recognized the four WC students who recently attended the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition in Stephenville and each received a first-place rating in their division.
- Recognized the 27 Coyote athletes named Academic All-Conference by the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference.
- Announced the resignations of Melissa Johnson, student services clerk, and Mickey Ryan, program director for radiology technology.