OTC Foundation receives financial contributions for Student Support programs

The OTC Foundation, the fundraising arm of Ozarks Technical Community College, has received pledges toward two of the College’s Student Support programs.

Neal and Julie Spencer made a five-year pledge to both the Middle College and Read Right programs at Ozarks Technical Community College.  Mr. Spencer is the CEO of BKD, LLP, and is a member of the OTC Foundation Board of Directors.

Additionally, Jim and Cathy Moore made a commitment to the Middle College.  Mr. Moore is the Managing Partner for American Products LLC and is the president of the OTC Foundation Board of Directors.

“These programs are vital to the education of so many of our students, and are often the difference between dropping out of school or finishing a degree or certificate through the College,” said Dr. Hal Higdon, president of Ozarks Technical Community College.  “These measures of financial support from the community are deeply appreciated.”

“We are grateful to the Spencers and the Moores for their contributions to our Student Support programs,” added Cliff Davis, vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the OTC Foundation.  “Their gifts will help the College to continue meeting the academic needs of our students that fall outside of a specific classroom.”

The Middle College program, developed in partnership with the Springfield R-12 school system, was created to help underachieving students to complete their high school education while earning free college credit.  The students, who are selected through a series of assessments and interviews, choose between the Early Childhood Development, Diesel/Automotive Technology, or Medical Services programs at the College.  They also participate in an internship at a related business.  The program is the first of its kind in Missouri.

Read Right, the Reading Comprehension program implemented at Ozarks Technical Community College in 2008, is designed for students without the necessary reading skills to succeed in college level coursework.  After receiving an individualized consultation, each student receives tutoring at an appropriate level in which the brain is compelled to read for meaning, rather than word identification.  The program is currently capable of serving 230 students a semester, but with the College’s rapid expansion, approximately 1,300 students per semester test into the course.  Students who successfully complete the program become comfortable, excellent readers and better students overall.

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