From the Foundation: Summer Newsletter

Summer Newsletter

2024 V2

QUICK LINKS

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Forever ACC Legacy Society

A Note From...

Hello Courtney,

I hope that you have had a wonderful spring and are looking forward to summer!

Springtime means graduation time! Arapahoe Community College celebrated graduation on May 10^th at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus. When I think of graduation I think of our students and all the hard work, determination, and perseverance it took for them to get to this point. And the sense of accomplishment they must feel. This year over 600 students graduated from ACC, an amazing number.

As a member of the ACC Foundation Board, I am always amazed at the stories I hear about our students and their incredible journeys. It is inspiring to see the impact that these students have on themselves, their family and friends, and their community. Reading the story of this year’s Alumni of the Year, Jenna James, is a great example. There are many stories, they are all amazing, and they are truly inspiring!

This inspires me to continue to help as many students as possible through our work in the foundation. Many ACC Graduates received scholarships during their time at the college and it is rewarding to know that the Foundation was there to help. This fiscal year over $1 Million was awarded in scholarships at ACC. Did you know that students who receive scholarships have a higher persistency rate of continuing in school and are more likely to complete their studies and graduate!

It is likely that some received help from our Student Emergency Fund and that helped them get through a particularly tough time. It is also likely that some students had improved classroom experiences because of innovative Mini-Grants that were awarded to faculty through the ACC Foundation.

These are just a few areas where the Foundation impacts ACC students in many different ways. I want to thank you for your support of the ACC Foundation. The great work that the Foundation is doing would not be possible without you! Your support allows us to continue to impact the lives of many students, helping to improve their chances of succeeding, and helping them achieve their dreams and goals!

Sincerely,

Randy Anderson

Treasurer

ACC Foundation Board of Directors

FEATURE

Meet Jenna James, our 2024 Alumni of the Year!

Jenna James graduated from ACC in 2010 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Multimedia, Graphic Design, & Illustration. She went on to build an exciting career from the education foundation she received at ACC.

Click HERE to learn more about Jenna!

Read about Jenna James on the ACC blog!

WHAT WE DO

We Support Students in their Quest to Succeed and Celebrate their Success!

ACC graduates walk from the 2024 commencement ceremony through a hall lined with cheering faculty and staff.

Arapahoe Community College held its 57th annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10th, 2024. Over 600 students participated this year, and we couldn't be more excited to see ACC's alumni community grow!

For many students, this milestone wouldn't be reached without financial support. Read about two of our ACC Scholars: Weslyn Elder was a COSI Arapahoe and Anschutz Foundation scholar and Krysten Welsh was a Kevin Patterson Memorial scholar.

Click HERE to read Weslyn's & Krysten's stories.

Our Donors Make a Difference in ACC Students' Lives! Click HERE to Donate Today!

Watch ACC's 57th Commencement HERE.

GIVE LATER

Future Gifts

The future is both unknown and unknowable. As such, we’re called to manage our money carefully throughout our lives—budgeting for expenses, saving and investing, planning for major moments and our eventual retirement. We build for today and tomorrow, protecting against life’s uncertainties at every step.

At different times, we may also feel compelled to support Arapahoe Community College philanthropically, to give back, to support student’s at the very beginning of life’s journey. We give back because we care.

A future gift is one of the best ways to make an enduring impact on Arapahoe Community College. Your gift can help ensure the best in academic excellence for future generations of students. And most of these gifts will preserve your control over your assets for life, protecting you in case unforeseen needs arise.

For more information about future gifts or the Forever ACC Legacy Society, please contact Courtney Loehfelm at GiftPlanning@arapahoe.edu or 720.440.4666.

There is never any expectation or obligation to complete a gift.

The Forever ACC Legacy Society has been created to honor and thank those who remember the College with a gift in their estate plans. There are many ways to do this. Some have named Arapahoe Community College to receive a future gift in their will or living trust, while others have named us as a future beneficiary of a life insurance policy, IRA or charitable trust. A variety of options exist.

For more information about the Forever ACC Legacy Society and planned giving program, please email GiftPlanning@arapahoe.edu. There is never any expectation or obligation to complete a gift.

Click HERE to Learn More

CONNECT WITH US!

SAVE THE DATE

Art, Wine, and Design

Thursday, September 26, 2024

6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

ACC Art & Design Center

2400 West Alamo Avenue

Littleton, CO 80120

All funds raised will be used for student scholarships and the mission of the ACC Foundation.

Click HERE to Become an Art, Wine, & Design Sponsor!

#IT'S A PUMA THING

ACC FOUNDATION BOARD

Meet ACC Foundation Board Member Linda Lujan

Dr. Linda Lujan, is the recently retired president of Lamar Community College, one of 13 colleges in the Colorado Community College System. Her professional journey in community colleges has spanned 40 years and she (along with her late husband, Captain Edward Lujan, Jr., a retired Denver Police Captain) has always been a staunch advocate for educational opportunities for all.

Lujan earned a Ph.D. in Community College Leadership from Colorado State University, an M.A. in Educational Technology Leadership from the George Washington University, a B.A. in Human Resource Management from Colorado Christian University, and an A.A.S. in Management Information Systems from Arapahoe Community College. She is a proud first-generation, adult re-entry student and a Phi Theta Kappa member.

Lujan has published and presented nationally, served on many local and national boards and committees, and received numerous awards and accolades for her work, however, she considers her most important role to be mother, grandmother, human being, and leader who

believes we can all make a difference on this planet.

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

Image: The Robotics and Automation Technology/Mechatronics program used ACC Foundation Mini-Grant for Innovation funds to purchase one of the above robotic arms with the award they received in 2022.

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 ACC Foundation Mini-Grant for Innovation Recipients!

Each year, the ACC Foundation opens applications to ACC staff, faculty, and instructors for our Mini-Grants for Innovation. Through the years, this program has provided seed money for projects or special initiatives that support ACC's Mission. Our Foundation Board is proud to announce the following recipients of our 2024 ACC Foundation Mini-Grants for Innovation:

Phi Theta Kappa received $1,200.00 for Phi Theta Kappa Registration Scholarships.

Automotive Service Technology

received $2,200.00 for Battery Workforce Challenge-School

of Mines Collaboration.

(Learn about ACC & School of Mines' Year One Championship HERE!)

Fitness Center/Student Life received $11,265.00 for Empowering Health and Wellness Through InBody Scan Technology.

Workforce & Community Programs received $1,027.98 for Incentivizing Students to Attend the Puma Parents Resource Fair

CONGRATS TO FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER RHONDA LORD

Congratulations to Board Member, Rhonda Lord who recently won the South Metro Chamber Champion award and the Women Owned Business of the Year award!

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN ACC FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER?

Complete the form at the link below to be considered.

Board Member Application

CONGRATS TO ACC PRESIDENT STEPHANIE FUJII

Congratulations to ACC President, Stephanie Fujii who was honored at the Littleton Business Chamber's Women's Leadership Conference as Outstanding Leader 2024, Women in Leadership, Littleton.

UPCOMING EVENTS

41st Annual Colorado Concours d'Elegance & Exotic Sports Car Show

Sunday, June 9th, 2024

9am - 3pm at Arapahoe Community College

Purchase tickets at:

Coloradoconcours.org

This is not an ACC Foundation event.

Flight of Daedalus

Be sure to check out Flight of Daedalus, an outdoor art exhibit designed by ACC Students and installed in cooperation with the High Line Canal Conservancy and the Museum of Outdoor Art.

This exhibit can be be seen on the High Line Canal trail at mile marker 30 through October 20th, 2024.

Map your trip HERE.

Read more about this project on ACC's blog, HERE.