Scholarship needs jump at Big Bend

MOSES LAKE — With winter quarter wrapping up at the end of March, the need for lower-amount student scholarships will likely increase at Big Bend Community College.

The money prevents students from dropping out of college and comes in the form of intervention scholarships.

The need can be as low as $10 or as high as $1,200 for expenses including day care costs for students’ children, car parts, tuition, admission fees, books, medical expenses and other items.

“Students generally have finances in order at the start of the academic year in the fall,” said Doug Sly, the college’s development director and foundation executive director. “But unexpected things happen, and by winter and spring quarters we see an increase in the need for these funds.”

The program started two years ago at the college. Since then, 200 students received the scholarships.

Others are noticing the program, as Green River Community College in Auburn, Wash., Skagit Valley Community College in Mount Vernon, Wash., and Wenatchee Valley Community College in Wenatchee, Wash., have contacted Big Bend for more information.

The idea of helping students in such a flexible manner is compelling for donors because they’re using private money and don’t have to deal with regulations, he explained.

A medical assistant program student was recently helped when she received $300 for required vaccinations for work. Her insurance didn’t pay for the expense.

A recently widowed mother of two children was given $1,300 when she enrolled at the college to help her family. The money helped the woman pay for child care and fuel while she attended classes.

“Some of the students were under so much stress they broke down in tears when we helped them find a way to stay in school,” stated Andre Guzman, the college’s financial aid director.

Donors include Pat Weinstein, owner of Weinstein Beverage Company in Moses Lake and Wenatchee, his wife Susan Landon Weinstein, Ty and Artis Ballinger, Steve and Mary Shinn and Silverbow Honey.

“Susan’s vision allowed Big Bend to develop a new model for helping students facing financial emergencies,” stated college President Bill Bonaudi. “It allows us to provide immediate help for students who are in danger of dropping out for non-academic reasons.”

The Weinsteins gave $30,000 for intervention scholarships and an additional $20,000 for other scholarships. The college foundation set aside $12,000 of its scholarship money for the program.

There’s now $2,600 left for the intervention scholarships.

For more information, contact Sly at 509-793-2007 or via e-mail at dougs@bigbend.edu.