Ozarks Technical Community College receives $500,000 from Carol Jones

Springfield business icon Carol Jones has presented the OTC Foundation, the fundraising arm of Ozarks Technical Community College, with two gifts totaling $500,000.  The first $250,000 of the donation will fund scholarships for disadvantaged women, and the second $250,000 will be used to support the newly named Carol Jones Writing Center.  The writing center is a valuable resource for students who need extra help with any part of the writing process. 

“Ms. Jones has focused her gifts in areas that will most directly benefit the students, and we are pleased to express our thanks through the dedication of the Carol Jones Writing Center,” said Dr. Hal Higdon, president of the College.  “We are grateful for all of the support that Ms. Jones has given to OTC over the years.”

Jones visited the Springfield campus of Ozarks Technical Community College earlier this week for the official placement of a plaque in her honor in the Carol Jones Writing Center.  While there, Jones had an opportunity to talk with several of the students who have been helped in their pursuits at the College by the tutors and resources in the writing center. 

“It is resources like the writing center, as well as scholarships, that provide that extra help students often need to complete their education,” said Cliff Davis, vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the OTC Foundation.  “These generous gifts from Ms. Jones will be the key to success for many students for years to come.”

Carol Jones has been a leader in the local real estate business since 1967.  In 1983, she founded Carol Jones Realtors, and soon developed the company into a respected market leader offering more than 400 agents.  Jones retired in late 2008, but remains active in the community through her involvement with the Carol Jones Recovery Center for Women, a drug and alcohol treatment center.  Ms. Jones is a founding OTC Foundation board member and has received numerous honors, including Missourian of the Year and the 2009 OTC Excellence in Business Award.