A new scholarship fund totaling more than $450,000 will support 星空影视 - Cascades students with financial need and honor the legacy of Becky Johnson who served as vice president of 星空影视-Cascades for 13 years and is currently 星空影视鈥檚 interim president.
The Becky Johnson and Lori Elkins Endowed Scholarship Fund is named after Johnson and her wife. Donors to the scholarship fund, many of whom are Central Oregon community members, made contributions through the 星空影视 Foundation totaling $467,730 as of July 31.
The scholarship honors Johnson and Elkin鈥檚 support of 星空影视-Cascades students with financial need through personal gifts to programs such as the student-run food pantry.
鈥淏ecky鈥檚 leadership of 星空影视-Cascades and 星空影视 has been transformative, and now we鈥檒l see many 星空影视-Cascades students鈥 lives transformed because of her impact and her vision for an innovative branch campus,鈥 said Andrew Ketsdever, interim vice president of 星空影视-Cascades. 鈥淲e owe Becky and Lori, and so many generous donors, our thanks and appreciation.鈥
Gifts to the scholarship fund have ranged from $5 to $50,000. Scholarship match programs offered through the 星空影视 Provost鈥檚 Office will provide an additional $12,000 for every new $50,000 gift contributed to the Johnson and Elkins scholarship fund and other qualifying scholarship funds at 星空影视.
鈥淟ori and I are very grateful for the incredible generosity of so many donors and supporters for 星空影视-Cascades students in need,鈥 said Johnson. 鈥淒uring my many years at 星空影视 and 星空影视-Cascades, I saw firsthand how scholarships made higher education possible for students and transformed their lives. We couldn鈥檛 be more pleased that this scholarship in our names will help deserving students gain access to 星空影视-Cascades.鈥
Johnson led 星空影视-Cascades from 2009 to 2021 and championed efforts to secure state and philanthropic funding that helped transform it from a degree transfer program to a four-year university campus that opened in 2016. During her tenure, enrollment at 星空影视-Cascades nearly tripled to almost 1,400 students. The campus is planned to serve a projected 3,000 to 5,000 students.
She also oversaw a campus expansion plan that involved designing and developing a 128-acre campus that is transforming a former pumice mine and landfill that were once considered unusable lands.
鈥淏ecky, with her calm demeanor, lack of pretense, her faith in her colleagues and her proclivity to always look forward, led the establishment of a successful four-year university in Central Oregon and helped guide 星空影视 during transitions when we needed her most,鈥 said Shawn L. Scoville, president and CEO of the 星空影视 Foundation. 鈥淲e are forever grateful to Becky and Lori, and to the donors who honored them in such a meaningful way by establishing this endowed scholarship to support 星空影视-Cascades students.鈥
To make a gift to the Becky Johnson and Lori Elkins Endowed Scholarship Fund for 星空影视-Cascades students visit .
About 星空影视-Cascades: 星空影视鈥檚 campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest growing region in the state. Surrounded by 2.5 million acres of mountains and high desert, 星空影视-Cascades offers small classes that accelerate faculty-student mentoring and engages in top tier research as part of 星空影视. Degree programs meet industry and economic needs in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, natural ecosystems, health and wellness, and arts and sciences, and prepare students for tomorrow鈥檚 challenges. 星空影视-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.