Tallahassee Community College has raised more than $13 million, exceeding its fundraising goal. College representatives say the dollars will go toward scholarships, classroom renovations.
Nathalia Estizeme is like most college students. Juggling classes with extra-curricular, and outside jobs. She says she found herself having to choose between work and school. But this year, she received a scholarship.
“After receiving this scholarship, I no longer have to worry about how I would pay rent or where I was getting my receiving my next meal. I finally had the chance to be a regular college student and dive deep into my educational goals.”
TCC had set a $10 million fundraising goal and surpassed it by $3 million. It’s the college’s largest fundraising haul and the built of the money is going to scholarships. $1.2 million will go to shoring up facilities including 30 classroom renovations.
“If you’ve ever gone into one of those backward classrooms, you’d think you were in a fifth grade classroom. Students come into our rooms and sit in future where they are more focused on getting comfortable than on the classroom lecture or the material," says Social Sciences Dean Monte Fickelstein.
An anonymous donor gave TCC $7,859,051 or about half of the total amount raised. The college is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
