The University of Hawaii Community College (UHCC) has received a $1 million anonymous donation that will go toward the development of academic and professional opportunities for students, the university’s news website reported.
Over 90 percent of the fund ($920,000) will be devoted to scholarships for full-time and part-time students enrolled in any field of study. The remaining $80,000 will go toward the professional development of UHCC’s faculty, staff, and student leaders.
Since 78 percent of the school’s alumni stay on the island and contribute to the local community, the generous gift will directly benefit future teachers, nurses, chefs, and social workers, UHCC Chancellor Rachel Solemsaas said.
“We are eternally grateful to the generous donors who are forever shaping the life trajectory of so many of our Hawaiʻi Island residents by making a quality higher education affordable,” she added.
Changing Lives for the Better
In recent years, many higher education institutions have benefited from similar donations — both identified and anonymous.
Toward the end of last year, “Secret Santa” philanthropist Mackenzie Scott donated nearly $6 billion to dozens of colleges in the country.
Anonymous donors have also made generous contributions to universities to the tune of millions of dollars, including at Creighton University, the University of Houston, and Colorado Mesa University.
This gift aid has proved instrumental for these schools and benefited thousands of students. For instance, the $6 million donation for the geosciences program at Colorado Mesa was used for scholarships, field trips, and field research for the program’s students.
Talking about the impact of philanthropy in higher education, UH Vice President of Advancement Tim Dolan said such efforts have “powerful outcomes and truly change lives for the better.”
