Durbin funds totaling $100,000 up for grabs

mpcc durbin — Businessmen and women from throughout North Platte gathered at the Prairie Arts Center on May 4 for the first-ever North Platte Community College Foundation Scholarship Reception. The event gave NPCC scholarship recipients and donors a chance to meet each other face-to-face.

Students planning to attend North Platte Community College during the 2016-17 school year have the chance to tap into $100,000 worth of scholarship money.

Offered through the North Platte Community College Foundation, the money is part of the “Oliver, Mildred, Marguerite, Mary and Albert Durbin Scholarship Fund” established in November of 2009 with a $1 million donation from the estate of Oliver Durbin.

Oliver, who died Dec. 25, 2008 at the age of 102, was a strong proponent of continuing education and NPCC. According to those who knew him, Oliver was quite frugal by nature, but exceptionally generous at heart.

His scholarship was designed to help students going through financial hardships due to family circumstances attend college. Almost $190,000 in Durbin funds have been awarded since 2009.

Recipients of the 2015-16 funds were recognized May 4 during the first-ever North Platte Community College Foundation Scholarship Reception at the Prairie Arts Center.

About 45 people attended the event, which gave NPCC scholarship recipients and donors a chance to meet each other face-to-face.

“We think that’s important,” said Carol Bodeen, the college’s area director of development. “None of this happens without all of us working together.”

Jody Tomanek, area vice-president of academic affairs and NPCC, Bodeen and Tom Gorman, vice president of the NPCC Foundation all spoke at the event.

The scholarship recipients also stood, said their names, described what they were studying at NPCC and detailed their plans for the future.

They were able to network with representatives from a variety of local businesses and organizations. At the same time, donors gained a better understanding of how their money was being used to improve student lives.

“Overall, I think the reception was a huge success,” said Gorman. “Next year is going to be even bigger and better. We expect events such as this to inspire others to pay it forward by donating toward scholarships at NPCC.”

More information about the NPCC Foundation can be found online at http://www.mpcc.edu/npcc-foundation. Students can apply for the Durbin scholarship at http://www.mpcc.edu/become-a-student/admissions.