The Southwestern  Oregon Community College  Foundation will be receiving  $50,000 from the James F.  and Marion L. Miller  Foundation for student  scholarships to be awarded  in the 2009-2010 school  year.  In the summer of 2008,  the Miller Foundation presented  a challenge grant to  all 17 Oregon Community  Colleges to increase their  scholarship fundraising  efforts by $1.5 Million.

The  Southwestern Foundation  will receive $50,000 in student  scholarships because it  raised over $50,000 more in  scholarship dollars from  April 1, 2008 to March 31,  2009 than the previous year.  With the challenge grant  award and the additional  scholarship dollars raised,  the Southwestern  Foundation will be able to  offer about $120,000 in student  scholarships in 2009-  2010, about $75,000 more  than the previous school  year. The Foundation will  almost double the number of  students assisted to 100.  Students that applied for the  Southwestern Foundation's  annual scholarships will be  considered for the Miller  Foundation scholarships.  Southwestern Miller  Scholars will be selected on  the basis of academics and  financial need and will be  required to be degree or certificate  seeking full or part  time students.

"The Foundation is  thrilled to be able to continue  to increase our assistance  for Southwestern students in  their educational pursuit,"  said Marie Simonds,  Foundation Executive  Director.  "Especially during these  tough economic times, we  are grateful to the Miller  Foundation and to our  Foundation supporters for  their commitment to providing  educational opportunities  to Southwestern students."