For over 100 years, St. Clair Community College has produced generations of graduates who have gone on to make significant contributions in various fields, while always carrying the values and knowledge they had gained from SC4.
Formed in 1963, the SC4 Foundation has played a crucial role in supporting these students by providing scholarships and other resources that enhance the overall educational experience.
“The SC4 Foundation gives people the opportunity to give back to the college and to future generations of students,” said Will Oldford, Board Chair of the SC4 Foundation.
So far in 2024 the SC4 foundation has awarded over $225,000 in scholarships to 70 students for the upcoming 2024/2025 academic year. The SC4 Foundation also provides occasional grant funding to the college, such as the $25,000 grant this year to support STEM Fest.
The SC4 Foundation manages more than 50 different scholarship funds for SC4 students, many of which are considered unrestricted funds. Oldford added that “These unrestricted scholarship funds provide for maximum impact because they allow us to address changing and evolving needs.”
These funds can cover not just tuition but expenses such as books and living expenses, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder a student’s educational journey. The Ellen Kean Scholarship, the Thomas A. Treleaven Communications Scholarship Fund, and the Stephen E. and Clara B. Oldford Scholarship are prime examples of unrestricted scholarship funds.
The Ellen Kean Scholarship was established in 1998 to assist sophomores at SC4 who have earned at least a 3.0 GPA during their first year at the college. For the upcoming academic year, 36 students will receive the Kean scholarship to help them continue their education. Second year nursing student, Emmaline Shivers, is one of those 36 students who will benefit from the generosity of the late Ellen Kean. “This scholarship will help me achieve my goal of becoming a labor and delivery nurse. Without the generous help from donors and the SC4 Foundation I would not be where I am today!” She said.
Erin Enderby is entering her third semester of the Associate of Science Nursing program at SC4. The recipient of the Thomas A. Treleaven Communications Scholarship Fund is benefiting from the scholarship that was established in 2004 with preference for communications majors but later expanded to all majors to encourage students to pursue their education. “So far, I have experienced such an exciting first year of nursing school. Scholarship assistance will help so much with the start of my second and final year before I get my RN.”
Also utilizing the unrestricted funds format to help students is the Stephen E. and Clara B. Oldford Scholarship. The scholarship was started in 2012 to help any full-time incoming freshman or sophomore students who graduated from any St. Clair County or Sanilac County high school. 13 students will be utilizing the Oldford scholarship for the upcoming school year. Radiologic Technology major Sydney Hilgendorf is very thankful for their scholarship from the Oldford family and is busy this summer with her required clinicals. “The Rad Tech program is a year-round program for two years. Because of this I am unable to work very much to save up for tuition. In this way, the scholarship is an enormous help”. Sydney is exited to be entering her second year of the program this fall.
Oldford explains “By providing these types of support, unrestricted scholarships empower college staff to award students funding beyond tuition which allows students to focus fully on their studies and personal growth, promoting academic success and long-term potential”.
For more information about donating to the college, creating a fund or to support student success, please contact Jackie Hanton, Vice President, at jackie@stclairfoundation.org or 810-984-4761
Students who wish to apply for SC4 Foundation scholarships should do so through SC4’s online application portal AcademicWorks.