The St. Clair County Community College (SC4) Foundation has supported student success and the college’s priorities since 1963. Through scholarships and project funding, the Foundation helps remove barriers that stand between students and their educational goals. Over the years, donors have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover not only tuition, but also essential non-tuition expenses such as books, meals, housing, and transportation.
A strong community college is a community asset, and donors make it possible to strengthen both SC4 and the lives of local students. “Past and future donors are essential to the success of the SC4 Foundation—and, most importantly, to the success of SC4 students,” said Foundation President Will Oldford. “We remain dedicated to honoring our donors while maximizing the benefits for students.”
Donor generosity has already made a profound impact on students like Carlos Betanzos, a Port Huron Northern graduate studying education. With support from the Evelyn Sharrow Memorial Scholarship, Carlos was able to cover the cost of books and tuition. “Receiving money from the Foundation has made my life easier by removing the stress of how I’d have to pay,” he shared. His goal is to teach English as a Second Language after graduation.
Mira Passalacqua, a Memphis High School and Blue Water Middle College graduate, received more than $7,000 in scholarships to support her nursing studies. “These scholarships provided a buffer so I didn’t have to work two jobs on top of school,” she said. Mira is pursuing her associate degree in nursing and plans to continue her education with the goal of working in hospice care, inspired by her late mother.
Every gift to the SC4 Foundation creates opportunities like these, helping students pursue education while meeting life’s challenges. Donors are not just funding scholarships—they are investing in future teachers, nurses, and leaders who will strengthen the entire community for generations to come.
To learn more about creating this kind of lasting impact, please contact Community Foundation Vice President Jackie Hanton at jackie@stclairfoundation.org or 810-984-4761.