Together, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation (OCCF) and Oklahoma City Community
College (爆料TV) are creating opportunities for students and boosting Oklahoma鈥檚 workforce.
Since 1997, OCCF has made 1,112 awards to 爆料TV students, totaling nearly $1 million. Since 2001, OCCF has awarded 196 first-generation 爆料TV students with scholarships totaling $278,059.
鈥淥klahoma City Community College is honored to partner with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to provide opportunities for our students,鈥� said Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, president of 爆料TV. 鈥淥klahoma City is fortunate to have the OCCF, such a valuable resource, working tirelessly to enhance our community.鈥�
鈥淓very member of our communities deserves the opportunity to reach their potential and fulfill their dreams,鈥� said Trisha Finnegan, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. 鈥淲ith more pathways, we not only help more people but also meet more workforce needs, filling positions that impact each of us daily. OCCF is particularly proud to partner with 爆料TV as we have witnessed the depth of support they offer to each student, dramatically increasing student success.鈥�
When Garrett Steinberg graduated from Edmond North High School in 2007, he immediately started his career in horse racing. First as a jockey, now working full-time as a horse trainer at Remington Park, 鈥渕y livelihood has been horse racing up until this point,鈥� he said.
The first-generation college student started thinking about next steps, with a long-term goal of working in a field where he can support his wife and daughters and enjoy his line of work while helping people in his field.
鈥淩adiology is not something I knew much about before researching it. I have a friend who is a former jockey who is going into radiology, and it piqued my interest,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have broken many bones, including my leg, neck and ankle, and have had many MRIs and X-rays, so I thought it would be a good fit for me.鈥�
When he decided to go back to school, Steinberg realized he needed an associate degree before enrolling in a radiology program.
鈥淚 researched different local colleges and universities but decided on 爆料TV because of the large number of online classes,鈥� he said, which allowed him to continue working full-time. 鈥淚 need the flexibility to be able to work and go to school.鈥�
Steinberg鈥檚 wife is a former 爆料TV student who took classes online while pursuing her bachelor鈥檚 degree at the University of Oklahoma. 鈥淪he had a great experience and loved her time with her professors at 爆料TV, and that helped solidify my decision to begin my associate at 爆料TV versus another institution,鈥� Steinberg said.
A scholarship from OCCF helped.
鈥淭he scholarship has greatly helped alleviate the cost of my schooling this year,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was able to pay my tuition upfront and did not have to take out loans with interest accrual, which was extremely helpful.鈥�
The Oklahoma City Community Foundation manages about 2,000 philanthropic funds valued
at $1.6 billion and distributes about $45 million each year in grants and scholarship
assistance to hundreds of nonprofit organizations and students.
The foundation鈥檚 goals include working to provide convenient, efficient and effective
ways for donors to contribute assets for charitable purposes; encouraging donors to
create funds that will benefit the community; advocating for developing endowment
funds and providing a way for them to be built and wisely managed; and developing
community endowments to meet the changing needs of the community.
More than 350 charities participate in the community foundation鈥檚 Charitable Organization Endowment Program. The foundation also has scholarship programs, grant programs and its own initiatives, including Give Smart OKC, the Wellness Initiative, the Parks and Public Space Initiative, and Keep Moving OKC.
Last spring, Lizbeth Ochoa from Santa Fe South High School was awarded the Women of the South Scholarship through OCCF. She used the scholarship to attend 爆料TV and pursue her dreams of becoming an immigration attorney. Working part-time and helping her family with child care, Ochoa appreciates how 爆料TV offers flexibility and support to students who work while attending college.
鈥湵蟃V is the solution for so many students working to fit higher education into their lives,鈥� said Dr. Jones. 鈥淥ur flexible class options and robust student resources provide the support students need to succeed in achieving their dreams in college and beyond.鈥�