Todd Welden Memorial Scholarship lead gift of the 125th Continuing the Vision Scholarship Campaign
Tuesday / December 16, 2014
Ellsworth Community College has long focused on providing quality educational opportunities to students, and now those opportunities will not be limited to the campus in central Iowa due to a generous scholarship that is being established through the 125th Continuing the Vision Scholarship Campaign.
“Ever since our son, brother and husband, Todd, died last year, I have wanted to come up with something that would assure us that there would be a guaranteed continuance of his special attributes of sharing and caring for others. Last month, rather by happenstance, a plan presented itself,” said Jerry Welden, a long-time Ellsworth College Trustee and supporter of the College.
“A few weeks ago, the Ellsworth College campus was visited by Dr. Peter Jahr, an elected member of the European Union’s European Parliament. Dr. Jahr and Ellsworth instructor Joerg Rochlitzer have been instrumental in bringing students from the Saxony area of Germany to our College. However, there has been no funding available to reciprocate those efforts.” Welden continued, “Realizing that the Ellsworth College Foundation was about to initiate its 125th – Continuing the Vision Scholarship Campaign, it became apparent that would be the vehicle needed to make these exchanges possible. With the Todd Welden Memorial Scholarship, we will be able to send some of our deserving students to the Saxony area for work study, formal classes, cultural exchange or other opportunities that might present themselves.”
Welden’s gift of $125,000 will become a permanent endowment that will provide more than $5,000 each year to support students wanting to engage in international study opportunities and is the lead gift to the Foundation’s scholarship campaign that will focus on the College’s 125th anniversary, which will be celebrated in 2015.
“The Foundation is honored to receive this scholarship gift in Todd’s memory. This fund will allow the Foundation to add to the opportunities available to Ellsworth students. I believe it will enrich their education in ways we can only anticipate. This gift is a great way to begin the 125th Continuing the Vision Scholarship Campaign and I am excited to see the progress we can make through the goals of our project,” says Foundation Board President Roger Nissly.
Ellsworth Community College Provost Dr. Nancy Muecke notes, “This lead gift to the Ellsworth College Foundation’s ‘125th – Continuing the Vision Scholarship Campaign’ is an amazing opportunity for our students. Ellsworth has a long tradition of quality programs that have attracted students from around the world. We have been honored to partner with Dr. Jahr over the past five years and know that the students we have hosted from all over the world and those we have sent to the European Union for summer internships have been positively impacted by their experiences.”
The chance to study abroad is a resume and career building opportunity that roughly a third of employers find to be an attractive experience building opportunity for their potential hires(1). “Community college students are statistically the least likely to participate in study abroad opportunities of all U.S. college students because of the expense. These opportunities are life changing and add so much to a student’s education and viewpoint,” states Dr. Muecke. “The establishment of the Todd Welden Memorial Scholarship will allow us to encourage and support Ellsworth students to consider international study opportunities and to make global connections that will add to their educational experience and opportunities for many years to come. We are very grateful to Jerry for his long-time support of the College, and this new and exciting life-changing prospect for our students.”
The 125th Campaign has two goals. The first goal is to increase the number of endowed scholarships to 125 individual endowments supporting Ellsworth students. The second goal is to reach $1,250,000 in gifts through the campaign. The campaign will run between now and the end of 2016 to allow donors to spread their gifts and pledges over more than one calendar year. Donors who have planned estate gifts will also be able to commit their plans toward the campaign goals if they would like to notify the Foundation of their intent.
For more information about the 125th – Continuing the Vision Scholarship Campaign, please contact the Ellsworth College Foundation at 641-648-8575.
(1) QS Global Employer Survey Report 2011; How Employers Value an International Study Experience. John Molony, VP, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, Ben Sowter, Head, QS Intelligence Unit, Davina Potts, Michigan State University