Growing Foundation At Rose State Campaigns To Make College More Accessible Published February 17, 2016

Midwest City, Okla. – Community colleges make a college degree accessible to any who desire it by maintaining an open door admission policy and keeping the cost of attendance down.  But for many, finances are a barrier to pursuing their dream of earning a college degree.  The Rose State College Foundation aims to remove that barrier by raising additional funds for scholarships to make a way for those students to reach their goals. 

Cindy Mikeman became Executive Director of the Foundation in 2013.  Since that time, the Foundation has seen tremendous growth – increasing giving by 33%. With these funds, 125-150 scholarships are given each semester to help students reach their graduation goals.  These scholarships are continually awarded thanks to a multitude of generous donors who give toward endowed scholarships that will be available in perpetuity. It only takes $25,000 to endow a scholarship. Mikeman hopes to raise funds to complete endowments for four scholarships in the coming months. 

One such scholarship is in the name of former Rose State English professor, James Axley.  Axley passed away in the early 1990s while teaching at Rose State.  Immediately after his death, his family and colleagues donated money to establish a James Axley Writing Award to be given to a deserving student at the annual Poetry at Rose event.  Claudia Buckmaster, Dean of Humanities at Rose State said, “Contributions to the fund have continued, as have the awards themselves and we are now less than $3,500 away from successfully endowing the James Axley Scholarship. It is our hope to raise that amount this month so we can announce our success during Poetry at Rose on March 4.”

As giving continues, more deserving students will be recipients of funds that allow them to work towards their goal of earning a college degree.

The Rose State College Foundation is one of the many growing areas on campus this academic year. A 22-million dollar bond project, approved by the voters, has brought upgrades campus wide. From a newly renovated wellness/aquatic center to new and improved signage to the building of a new Learning Resource Center. In addition, this academic year was the first time students could live on campus at Rose State College. In the fall of 2015, the Village at Rose State opened its doors to 100-percent occupancy. The apartment style campus life houses 170 beds.

To give towards one of the four scholarships near endowment level or to start a scholarship fund of your own, contact Cindy Mikeman at 405.736.0354 or give online at www.rose.edu/foundation.