Mission
The mission of the Dutchess Community College Foundation is to raise funds to provide scholarships and support the College’s initiatives that will have a significant and direct impact on the students, faculty and staff of Dutchess Community College.
Scholarship Awards from the DCC Foundation
In addition to the various types of financial aid available to students from governmental and non-governmental sources, the DCC Foundation administers various types of local scholarship aid.
Incoming Students
The Charles E. and Mabel E. Conklin Scholarship for Academic Excellence is for full-time incoming freshmen who have graduated from a Dutchess County high school in the top 10% of their class. These scholarships cover the cost of tuition for two consecutive years (four semesters) of full-time study at Dutchess Community College.
Additional scholarships for incoming freshmen are available. For a full list and application, please visit www.sunydutchess.edu/scholarships.
Continuing Students
Scholarships for continuing students (24+ credits) are made possible through the generosity of private donors. Applications are available during the spring semester each year. The scholarships, which range from $500-$3,500, are awarded at an annual Honors Convocation in May.
Graduating Students
Private donors also have funded scholarships for students graduating from DCC and transferring to another institution. As with the scholarships for continuing students, these range in value from $500 to $4,000 and will be awarded at the May Honors Convocation.
Day Care Scholarships
The Foundation provides scholarships to help struggling parents afford the day care services that allow them to stay – and succeed – in college. Call the Foundation at (845) 431-8400 for more information.
Emergency Needs Grants
The Foundation also helps support financial hardship grants for students who need to overcome short-term hurdles. More information can be found on page 19 of the catalog (Student Resource Navigator).
Alumni Relations
The DCC Foundation serves as a vital link between all alumni and Dutchess Community College. It works to facilitate communication and sponsor a wide variety of programs and benefits for alumni that foster a spirit of loyalty, involvement and lifelong commitment to the College. With the support of our loyal graduates and many friends, DCC continues to be a leader in community college education. For more information, call the DCC Foundation at (845) 431-8400.
Organization Background
The DCC Foundation was incorporated on July 21, 1976 to advance the mission and goals of Dutchess Community College. It became a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation in 1984 with assets totaling $280,069. As of August 31, 2022, the Foundation’s assets total more than $14,600,000 4. This growth provides for scholarships and grants in excess of $800,000 each year.
In addition to scholarships, the Foundation supports endowed chair programs and professional development, sponsors a variety of special programs to support the College’s mission and provides funding for technology and campus improvements. The Foundation has become an integral part of DCC’s drive to maintain excellence and to improve the educational experience of all students.
We are able to do this through the generosity of our alumni and friends that have made the DCC Foundation a philanthropic priority. Funds are raised through our annual fund, major gifts and special events programs. This support makes a measurable difference financially for our students.
Board Members, 2023-2024
Officers:
- Raymond J. Freda, ’88, Chair
- Lisa Morris ’85 , Vice Chair
- Michael Graham, Treasurer
- Adam Podpora '11, Secretary
Directors:
- Brian Berryann ‘20
- Kip Bleakley O'Neill
- Shirley Brereton ’88
- Betsy Brown ‘64
- Paul Conrad ’12
- Keith Daly '72
- Jasmin Davis
- Robert Dietz
- Carol Gordon
- Michael Hall
- David P. Kelly
- Richard Kleban
- Susan Scivolette McCormack '87
- Eddie Monroy ‘11
- Vincent Nunziato
- Richard Reitano
- Kelly Traver '94
- Sherre Wesley
- David Wise ’80
Ex-officio:
- Peter Grant Jordan, President
- Frank Castella, Jr. ’99 , Trustee Liaison
- Diana L. Pollard ’97, Assistant Secretary
DCC Foundation Personnel:
- Diana L. Pollard ’97, Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director
- Anna E. Perra, Director of Development
- Burnelle Roser, Assistant Director of Grants, Alumni Relations and Operations
- Christina Ausiello, Coordinator of Annual Giving and Communications
- Lara Simmons, Executive Assistant to the DCC Foundation Board and Executive Director
- Stephanie Timpano ‘90, Coordinator of Special Events
- Mary Jo Cipollini, Development Associate
- Noemi Labrador, Receptionist