Karen Ferguson

As President of the Foundation and at my desk in the fi nancial world, the current economic condition is always present. Sheridan College, the Sheridan area and Wyoming have been somewhat insulated from the harshness felt in other areas of the country, but we are not immune from recessionary effects. During economically challenging times, the need for fi nancial support for students is the greatest. Sheridan College has record enrollment as more students return to community colleges or choose community colleges based on value and others from the community look to the College for short term training to be able to enter or re-enter the job market.

Many Sheridan College students need fi nancial support in order to attend college. Recent Wyoming high school graduates benefi t from the generous Hathaway Scholarships from the State of Wyoming, lower income students benefi t from Federal grants and loans and many local students receive student loans from private foundations. Twenty-eight percent of Sheridan College’s students need scholarships from the Sheridan College Foundation to fi nish paying for their college expenses. Many of these scholarships are targeted to meet a specifi c fi nancial need, reward academic achievement or support a chosen field of study.

Even with decreased value of our invested assets, the Sheridan College Foundation is providing over half a million dollars in scholarships for the 2009-2010 academic year. Thanks to our generous donors. Our students, both traditional and nontraditional, applaud your efforts at making their education happen. Our bottom line in this and all economic times is to continue to support Sheridan College students with great educational programs, appropriate facilities and available scholarships.