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Reynolds said the gift will touch nearly every part of the college\u2019s work, from affordability and academic quality to outreach and workforce development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvery decision we make with these dollars will be filtered through our strategic plan and our commitment to student success,\u201d Reynolds said. \u201cThis gift will not replace the hard work of annual fundraising or state support, but it will give us the flexibility to act more boldly and more quickly on opportunities that change students\u2019 lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The $17 million gift will be placed under the stewardship of the Seminole State College Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1972 to provide scholarship support and other resources to the college. The foundation supports SSC students through scholarships, economic development initiatives and facilities such as the Brian Crawford Memorial Sports Complex. The new gift will significantly increase the foundation\u2019s capacity to invest in students and campus priorities over the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMacKenzie Scott\u2019s generosity will reshape what is possible for our students and our community,\u201d said Mark Schell, chair of the SSC Educational Foundation Board of Trustees. \u201cWith this gift, the foundation can think in terms of decades rather than years. Our responsibility now is to steward these funds carefully, in a way that honors this donation, advances the college\u2019s mission and ensures that Seminole State College remains strong for future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Schell said the foundation expects to blend long-term endowment strategies with short-term investments in high-impact projects. He said the board will focus on balancing immediate student needs with building permanent resources that will sustain SSC well into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SSC Board of Regents Chair Marci Donaho said the gift reflects outside partners\u2019 confidence in the college\u2019s leadership and direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn behalf of the Board of Regents, I am deeply grateful to MacKenzie Scott and Yield Giving for investing in rural Oklahoma. These funds will help us keep a college education within reach, support innovative teaching and learning, and strengthen the pipeline of talent that our communities and employers depend on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Donaho said the Board of Regents will work closely with the Educational Foundation and college leadership to ensure the funds are used transparently and responsibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Across the country, Scott has become a significant donor to higher education, particularly at institutions that serve large numbers of first-generation and low-income students. Since 2019, she has distributed billions of dollars in largely unrestricted grants to organizations through Yield Giving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reynolds said SSC\u2019s strategic plan calls for investments in enrollment growth, technology, student support and community engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhether it is a high school student earning concurrent credit, a parent finishing a degree or an adult learner retraining for a new career, this gift will touch the lives of learners across our region,\u201d Reynolds said. \u201cIt will allow us to live out our mission on a bigger scale \u2014 empowering people for academic success, personal development and lifelong learning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Founded in 1931, Seminole State College is a public, two-year institution located in Seminole, Okla. The college offers associate degrees and certificates that prepare graduates to transfer to four-year universities or enter the workforce. SSC\u2019s service area includes Hughes, Lincoln, Okfuskee, Seminole and Pottawatomie counties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Seminole State College Educational Foundation provides scholarship support and capital resources that enhance the college\u2019s ability to serve students and the surrounding region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information about Seminole State College, visit sscok.edu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Seminole State College has received a $17 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott through her foundation, Yield Giving, the largest single donation in the college\u2019s 94-year history. The gift will be managed by the Seminole State College Educational Foundation, the college\u2019s nonprofit fundraising arm, and will be used to expand scholarships, strengthen student success … Continue reading SSC Receives Historic $17 Million Gift From MacKenzie Scott\u2019s Yield Giving<\/span>