RRCC Foundation adds board members

The Red Rocks Community College Foundation closed 2014 with two important announcements. The foundation welcomed two new members to its board of directors and was named a scholarship provider of the year by the National Scholarship Providers Association.

Board members

The RRCC Foundation brought on Shaw Schulder and Paula Claussen as the newest members of its board.

“We have a 27-member board. It’s a diverse group, and we do that intentionally,” said Ron Slinger, executive director of the foundation. “I ask all our board members to be champions of the college, supporters of the college and help us connect with the right people.”

Schulder manages the Boulder market for W.W. Grainger, Inc. and has been involved with Red Rocks Community College over the past several years through Grainger’s Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program.

Slinger said Grainger’s Tools for Tomorrow has helped many students fund their educations, and since 2008 it has helped 15 Red Rocks students in various technical fields through scholarships.

Claussen is senior vice president of the Lakewood Market for FirstBank and she brings more than 13 years in leadership to the foundation. Much like Grainger, FirstBank has been a long-time partner with RRCC –; since 1995 the bank has given more than $ 160,000 to the college.

“In the last six years we’ve seen a substantial increase in donations,” Slinger said. “This is an exciting time for us because of the growth and recognition we’ve been receiving.”

Scholarship Provider of the Year

The RRCC Foundation was recognized as the 2014 Scholarship Provider of the Year (SPOY) in the College and University category by the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA).

“This is the third time in the past five years we’ve been recognized for our scholarships, but this is the first national recognition,” Slinger said.

The award recognizes scholarship providers who demonstrate exceptional leadership, efficiency and impact in their support of higher education. There are two eligible categories, College and University Providers –; those within a post-secondary educational institution that provide scholarships for study at the institution and Independent Providers which are scholarship organizations run by a private or public foundation, unaffiliated with a specific college or university.

Organizations must be current members of NSPA and in good standing to be considered for the award.

Slinger said recipients of the foundation’s scholarships graduate at a higher rate than other students, and the foundation has provided more than 3,900 scholarships based on both merit and need.

According to information provided by RRCC, an applicant’s grades, academic and professional goals, financial need, community service, and special circumstances are all evaluated in the awarding process. The minimum requirements to apply for the RRCC Foundation Scholarship Program are Colorado residency, a 2.0 or higher GPA, and the ability to be at least a half-time student when receiving the award.

“This award affirms what we’re doing and shows that we’re being good stewards of our sponsor’s donated funds,” Slinger said. “We’re investing it wisely because we believe our students will be successful.”

Golden Transcript – Latest Stories