Â鶹ӰÊÓ

When the Â鶹ӰÊÓnical Community College Foundation was established in 1984, its first priority was to raise funds to support students. In those early years, this effort was focused on securing sources of funding for scholarships. In 1991, the Foundation began hosting 

what has become a signature event: the Annual Scholarship Breakfast. 

This gathering celebrates the generosity of Â鶹ӰÊÓ’s scholarship donors and the achievements of scholarship recipients, and brings together students whose educational journeys have been transformed by scholarship support and the donors who make these opportunities possible.

The Scholarship Breakfast was held virtually in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic; now, after a hiatus of four years, the event is returning to an in-person format with invitations going to nearly 400 students and donors.

There are many reasons why someone might wish to establish a scholarship at Â鶹ӰÊÓ. Some donors may wish to honor a family member or mentor, direct funding to students in a particular program 

of study or provide a boost to students who may be first-time college students or single parents. All donors acknowledge that others have supported them in a variety of ways and therefore they have a strong interest in paying it forward.

The first scholarship to be endowed at Â鶹ӰÊÓ was established in 1988 by O’Brien | Atkins to benefit students enrolled in the Architectural Technology program. Since then, more than 175 scholarships have been established at Â鶹ӰÊÓ. In the current academic year, 2024-25, $289,048 in scholarships have been awarded to 208 students.

For more information on the Â鶹ӰÊÓ Foundation’s scholarship program, please contact Director of Development Liz McFarlane at foundation@durhamtech.edu or (919) 536-7200, extension 6006. 

Pictured, from top: Charmaine Grafton, John and Mary Lou Schwartz Scholar; Christopher McDuff, Newton Family Scholar; and Alfred Ogechia, Carolyn Murray Nursing Scholar.