OTC, CoxHealth, St. John’s Health System announce $500,000 gift to create scholarship program

The OTC Foundation, the fundraising arm of Ozarks Technical Community College, has announced a major gift from CoxHealth and St. John’s Foundation for Community Health.  The two healthcare systems have committed a total of $500,000 to the College to create a new scholarship program for dependants of CoxHealth and St. John’s employees in OTC’s Allied Health programs.

“This unprecedented level of collaboration is very exciting, as this gift will benefit not only our students, but the healthcare industry in our area, and, therefore, every citizen of our community,” said Dr. Hal Higdon, president of the College.  “We are grateful to CoxHealth and St. John’s Health System for their generosity, and we look forward to working with them throughout this process and in the future.”

Each of the two companies has committed to give $50,000 each year for the next five years to fund the scholarship program.  The OTC Foundation is now accepting applications from students interested in receiving the scholarships; the first funds will be awarded in the fall of 2010.  The scholarship program is available exclusively to dependents and spouses of St. John’s and CoxHealth who are pursuing any of nine of the College’s Allied Health programs.  For more information or to apply for the scholarship program, visit www.otc.edu/foundation.

The OTC Foundation is currently engaged in its first-ever Major Gifts Capital Campaign; these gifts are contributions toward the Foundation’s $2.5 million fundraising goal for the Campaign’s Student Scholarships Initiative.  Other initiatives in the Campaign include:  Center for Health Education, $2 million; Student Support Programs, $2 million; and Workforce Development, $3 million.