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Over the past fourteen months, I have had the privilege of getting to know many of the students who fill our classrooms, participate in campus events, and are involved in Student Senate. So many of these students have compelling stories to tell.
In fact, during the first few weeks of my appointment, I ran into one such student at a local cafe. After I ordered a cup of coffee, one of the servers walked up to my table and introduced herself. A single parent of four children under the age of eleven, she had just started taking classes at North Hennepin and was waiting tables full time to support her family and change her life. Although she had received some financial aid, it was clearly a struggle for her to find the time and money to pursue a degree in criminal justice.
This student is just one of many, many NHCC students who rely on financial support in order to be able to achieve their dreams. As another student put it, “I don’t know how I’m going to afford to go to college. I just know I can’t afford not to.” Low income students are historically less likely to enroll in college, and, when they do, they typically face additional burdens such as working long hours to pay the bills and juggling family obligations. As a result, it’s not a surprise that a student from the lowest income bracket is five times less likely to receive a bachelor’s degree by age 24 than a student from the highest income bracket.
Nearly half of our 10,000+ students are low-income, and 68% come from families in which neither parent completed college.
The need is daunting, but what inspires me most to ask for your support are the stories of transformation and the real lives that are changed forever. I’ve seen it again and again – students who come to us unsure of their future, but who leave confident and well prepared for the next step of their journey, students who experience intellectual growth and develop strong skills that arm them for life’s challenges.
Even though community colleges like ours are by far the most affordable option for students in Minnesota, over the last decade, the state has cut funding of public higher education by nearly 50%. While the cost of higher education has remained relatively flat during this time, tuition has gone up to fill the gap. We know that increased costs close doors for students, lessening future opportunities for teachers, scientists, healthcare professionals, artists, computer programmers, and small business owners. When textbooks alone can cost $1,000 a year, money matters.
In response, North Hennepin is aggressively stepping up efforts to raise funds for students. In the next five years, the NHCC Foundation aims to provide significantly more scholarships and other forms of direct support to our students.
Of course, our ability to reach our goals and, in turn, help our students reach theirs, depends on you.
If you have given to the Foundation in the past, thank you! I hope you will continue your support. If you have not yet made a donation, please consider helping us to change the stories of our students by contributing your time, your talent, or your treasure. You may donate online at www.nhcc.edu/donate, or contact the Foundation office at 763-424-0815.
Your support is needed and appreciated. On behalf of all the students whose lives will be changed because of your generosity, again, I thank you.
Sincerely,
John O’Brien
President, North Hennepin Community College |