Dr. Fenter, who has served the college and community for nearly 23 years, will retire from MSCC on June 30 and become chief executive officer of the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce. A Donor Appreciation Event and Tribute Dinner has been scheduled for June 26, and contributors of $500 or more will be invited to the special event.
“I am humbled by the outpouring of generosity in support of this scholarship,” Dr. Fenter said. “When members of our Foundation Board first discussed this idea with me, I told them I thought they could raise a whole lot more money if the fund were to pay me to leave town, not create scholarships.
“This whole situation is awkward for me, but I appreciate any effort that gives the people of Crittenden County more opportunities to pursue their dreams. This scholarship is a great initiative, not because it has my name attached to it but because of what it will mean to our region.”
Southland Park Gaming and Racing, in collaboration with Delaware North Companies Inc., got the ball rolling in a big way by pledging $25,000 toward the Dr. Glen Fenter Working for the Future Scholarship the day the campaign was announced.
Donations and pledges have continued to roll in, but time is drawing short. Foundation Board Chair Franklin Fogleman says contributions are needed in the next 10 days to help meet the lofty goal.
“As president of Mid-South Community College, Dr. Fenter always set the bar
unbelievably high,” Fogleman said. “He willed the college to succeed, and now it’s our
turn to show him how much we appreciate everything he has done.
“Dr. Fenter has given his heart, his endless ideas and innovation, and his tireless
effort and resolve to make our institution, our community, and our future brighter. As Joe
Jenkins said at one of our meetings, ‘The community simply owes this to Glen Fenter.’”
The scholarship is specifically designed to help those who work hard while barely
managing to keep their financial heads above water. For them to improve their lot in life,
they need better access to higher education and training.
“Every time you empower people who are entrapped by circumstances beyond
their control, you give them the opportunity to grow and achieve their true God-given
potential,” Dr. Fenter said. “There are precious few scholarship opportunities like this in
our state or our country. These scholarships will help us change the model.”
Dr. Fenter’s leadership has been without parallel. Taking the reins of an
institution that appeared destined for closure in the early 1990s, Fenter helped establish a
comprehensive community college known throughout the state, region, and nation as a
model for workforce education.
Anyone interested in honoring Dr. Fenter with a contribution may send a check to
the Foundation (2000 West Broadway, West Memphis AR 72301), charge to a credit
card, or give online at https://www.midsouthcc.edu/foundation/give_online/donationsForm1.html. Pledges, which are payable by June 2018, are also welcome.
For additional information, contact Diane Hampton, MSCC Vice President for
Institutional Advancement, at (870) 733-6880 or dhampton@midsouthcc.edu.
No comments:
Post a Comment