The Board of Trustees approved iFactory as the firm that will lead the college through it's website redesign. The timeline has changed for this project from July 1 to early fall. The current website has over 2000 pages. We agreed as we would rather have a quality product launched after the deadline than one that meets the deadline but does not measure up to our expectations. Updates coming.

Summer 2022 Scholarships

Applications for Summer Scholarships opened on April 18, 2022, and more than 60 students have already begun the application process. Please send registered students seeking a degree or certificate from Prairie State College here to apply for a summer award. Remind students that applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received, so the sooner they apply the better.

Spring 2022 Scholarships

• 230 applications were attempted, 158 applications were successfully submitted and all 158 applications were reviewed.

• 109 applicants were offered tuition and/or textbook awards.

• 40 applicants were not eligible for awards (funded / high EFC).

• 9 applications are pending student action (update essays, textbook info).

• Of the reviewed applications, $55,940.00 was offered in tuition/textbook awards.

• Additionally, at the PSC Barnes & Noble Bookstore, the Foundation Office spent $4,302.52 for:

  • 25 textbooks (to be added to the BookSHARE program)

  • 13 one-time use lab books and access codes

• 56% of submitted applicants requested textbook assistance.

• 46 textbooks have been loaned as part of the BookSHARE program for a savings of $6,482.25

• Every Foundation applicant obtained a $200.00 CARES Act book voucher and saved the Foundation $31,600.00 in textbook award offers.

• 3.32 is the average GPA of qualified applicants.

• 67% of submitted applicants have a $0 EFC or no EFC reported (no EFC could be DACA, international, reporting issues).

• 68% of submitted applicants are first-generation college students.

• 75% of reviewed applicants were female and 25% of applicants were male

• Of reviewed applicants, 58% Black, 18% Hispanic, 17% White, 7% other/unidentified. Of awarded applicants, 58% Black, 17% Hispanic, 20% White, 5% other/unidentified.

Volunteers Needed for Commencement

The Foundation is seeking volunteers to help hand out PSC Alumni t-shirts to our new alumni at commencement on Saturday, May 21. Please contact pscfoundation@prairiestate.edu for more information.

Reach for the Stars Gala – Save the Date!

The Foundation will honor Dr. Marie Hansel as the Reach for the Stars Award recipient at the gala on Friday, September 16, 2022, at the Tinley Park Convention Center. Along with celebrating Dr. Anthony’s investiture held on Thursday, September 15, the Foundation will be fundraising for student scholarships at the first gala it has held since 2019. As always, employees will have the opportunity to purchase up to two tickets for cost at $100 each. Tickets can be purchased with check, cash, or credit card, or tickets can be purchased using payroll deduction. More information to come!

Economic Forecast Breakfast and Featured Students

On April 1, the Foundation raised over $10,000 net for scholarships at its annual Economic Forecast Breakfast at Olympia Fields Country Club. Student scholarship recipients volunteered at breakfast, and after the event, Susan Sebastian sent an email thanking them for their help:

It was a pleasure having you join us at Friday's Economic Forecast Breakfast. Thank you for your volunteer efforts and managing the front door. I hope you enjoyed representing student scholars, greeting attendees and the breakfast/presentation. The Foundation has received all positive comments regarding the event and several post event donations were made in support of scholarships. Your time and talent is recognized and the EFB would not have been as successful without you!

With appreciation,

Susan Sebastian

She shared the unsolicited responses from our professional, grateful, and hardworking students:

I should be the one to thank you for everything you are doing for us, and I am so grateful for that.

It was more than a pleasure to be one of the volunteers. Thank you again!

Respectfully,

Lovely

It was a pleasure! So happy I could attend.

Dannielle

Thank you for the opportunity! I really appreciate it.

Khaliah

It was a privilege and a great pleasure to be a part of that great event.

Thank you,

Olufunke

Prairie State College Foundation Full Board Meeting – April 21, 2022

The Foundation Board of Directors met in the College Board Room Thursday evening. At the meeting, the directors approved:

• Minutes from the Full Board meeting of February 2, 2022

• The Treasurer’s Report dated March 31, 2022

• The FY2021 audit as presented

• Clarified verbiage in the Foundation’s Spending Policy

Additionally, the directors discussed the data regarding spring 2022 scholarships, results of the Economic Forecast Breakfast, plans for the Scholarship Classic Golf Outing, and Special Funding Requests. President Dr. Michael Anthony, Executive Director Deborah Havighorst and Student Government Association Vice President Rebbie Davis gave reports.

The next Full Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 21.

The Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 31. To view information from the Board of Trustees, including meeting agendas, minutes and audio/video recordings, visit Board Meetings.