News

The Southeast Community College Educational Foundation held its second annual scholarship luncheon on Tuesday, April 22, at the Lincoln Campus, bringing together donors, scholarship recipients, corporate partners, and special guests to celebrate the life-changing power of educational support.

"Today, we gather to celebrate you, our generous donors and our dedicated scholarship recipients," said Ben Kiser, president of the SCC Educational Foundation Board. "This is a time to reflect and to express our sincere gratitude for your commitment to our students and their futures."

The numbers speak for themselves. In 2024-2025, the SCC Educational Foundation awarded 4,830 scholarships to 2,433 students at a value of more than $3.1 million, a significant increase from the prior year. The average scholarship award per student was $1,430. Twenty-seven new scholarships were established during the year, the highest number created in a single year.

"Scholarships do more than provide financial support—they create opportunity, belonging, and momentum," said Michelle Birkel, SCC Educational Foundation executive director. "Every gift, of any size, is an investment in our students and in the future workforce of our region."

SCC President Dr. Paul Illich highlighted the broader impact scholarships have on workforce development across the region. With more than 80 career and technical programs across three campuses and six learning centers, SCC is a critical pipeline for high-demand industries. Ninety-six percent of SCC graduates who continue their education do so in Nebraska, and 87 percent of employed graduates are using the skills they gained at SCC right here in the state.

Brooklyn Ivy, a second-year Nondestructive Testing Technology student from Firth, Nebraska, received the competitive Walter Scott Jr. Career Pathway Scholarship, which covers full tuition, fees, room and board for two-year technical students. She will graduate in May and has already secured a full-time job at her internship site.

"I can't thank the Scott Foundation enough for giving me the financial freedom that it has," Ivy said. "I haven't had to take out any student loans. This scholarship helped ease my financial worries before I even stepped foot on campus."

Originally from Venezuela, Roberto Paredes enrolled at SCC through the Tallgrass Tech Scholarship, which supports students in the Energy Generation Operations program. After a gap year working to save money, Paredes found his path at SCC and will graduate this semester as an honor student. "This scholarship has truly changed my life, motivated me, and opened opportunities I never expected."

Sapphire Guzman already has a Welding Technology degree but is currently working on degrees in Business, Operations and Service Management, and Architecture. Her scholarships are making it possible for her to pursue big dreams.

"In all honesty, could I have done it without financial assistance? Yes—I could have,” Guzman said. “I could have worked two part-time jobs, had sleepless nights, and pushed myself past exhaustion. But I didn't have to. Thanks to the generosity of others, I was able to live a life where I wasn't just surviving, but actually living."

The event also featured remarks from Tom and Kari Beckenhauer, donors who have established multiple scholarships in honor and memory of family, friends and organizations they care about. Their story began with a single meeting with Birkel in December 2023 and has since grown into a meaningful legacy of giving.

The Foundation currently has 433 total scholarship funds, 240 of which are endowed. An endowed scholarship allows the original gift to remain invested, with earnings used to fund scholarships year after year—creating a permanent legacy of support for future students.

"Your support makes this possible," Birkel told the audience. "While we celebrate this progress, there is still much work to do. The number of scholarship applications continues to exceed available awards."

For more information about establishing a scholarship or supporting SCC students, contact the SCC Educational Foundation at foundation@southeast.edu.         

Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu