D i s c o v e r C o n n e c t C h a n g e DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE FOUNDATION PAID 53 Pendell Road NEWBURGH, NY Poughkeepsie, New York 12601-1595 PERMIT NO. 44 DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION 2009 D U T C H E S S C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E A N N U A L R E P O R T ‘Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its D i s c o v e r C o n n e c t C h a n g e original dimensions.’ ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Dear Friends and Alumni ever before in Dutchess Community Colleges history have our faculty, staff and Nservices touched the lives of so many students. Record-breaking enrollment of 9,794 students for the Fall 2009 semester (with continued momentum this Spring) is a testament to the quality and value DCC provides, especially during financially challenging times. Our college community pulled together to serve this unprecedented influx of students by stepping up our advising and registration capabilities and adding faculty and courses. Some other community colleges werent as proactive in meeting the challenge, closing admission to fall credit classes or turning away new students. Fortunately, we were able and will continue to be here for our students and community. However, because of the difficult economic situation our students are facing, we need your assistance now more than ever. Foundation scholarships make a real and lasting difference Dr. D. David Conklin in the lives of our students. The Foundation Board is proud that despite fluctuations in the College President equity and bond markets, we maintained all scholarship funding at prior levels. This was possible because of support from our alumni, faculty, community and others who care about educating the next generation of DCC graduates. Please consider supporting the Foundation and our students this year. You can make a difference. Other highlights of the past year include: § DCC graduate Mark Mahoney 83 won a Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Editorial Writing for his work at The Post-Star in Glens Falls, NY. § The Foundation distributed the largest number of student awards in recent history more than 145 scholarships valued at $300,000. Foundation § We have a record number of Charles E. and Mabel E. Conklin Scholars students scholarships make who graduated in the top 10% of their high school class. Sixty students are taking a real and lasting advantage of this prestigious, full-tuition scholarship. difference in the § Special event sponsorship including the Gala and Golf Tournament remains lives of our extremely important, as that money goes directly to support scholarships. DCCs students. Gala typically raises more than $80,000 and is a festive occasion where we honor the Bernard Handel Community Leadership and Alumni Hall of Fame award recipients. § The student capital campaign has successfully finished, with students contributing $700,000 to DCC for the purpose of establishing a technology endowment. Matching their money was a $300,000 Title III federal grant. When the campaign started we were the only SUNY college to involve our students in giving in this way. § When SUNY recently disbursed its art collection, we were delighted to receive the Denunciation series by DCC faculty emeritus David Lax, a noted painter, whose work provided social commentary on World War II, the Holocaust and the human condition. The 14 paintings have been added to the Colleges permanent collection. We take seriously our responsibility to provide the residents of Dutchess County and the region with an outstanding and affordable postsecondary education. As we reflect on the past year, we thank you for your support of DCC and the Foundation and ultimately, our students. Your generosity creates opportunities and changes lives. 2009 ANNUALREPORT 1 1 education is discovering A professor can never better distinguish himself in his work than by encouraging a clever pupil, for the true discoverers are among them, as comets amongst the stars. - Carl Linnaeus Dear Friends of DCC uring these difficult times, Dutchess Community College is steering a steady course, Dcapitalizing on new opportunities and building for the future. We have many success stories to recount this year: Enrollment at the College is at an all-time high, and more students than ever are applying for scholarships. The Foundation Board is most proud of the Charles E. and Mabel E. Conklin Scholarship for Academic Excellence, which offers 100% tuition scholarships to all Dutchess County high school seniors graduating in the top 10% of their class. In addition, we awarded more than 145 scholarships at the May Convocation Ceremony a new record! Our ongoing thanks to the Conklin family for funding this opportunity. While endowment assets began to recover in value in 2009, the Foundation has been more dependent this year on current giving and sound management practices to meet our scholarship funding commitments. So, kudos to Trish Prunty, Executive Director, and the Paul Ellis Foundation staff for their excellent work. This year the Foundation has been able to fund Chairman our programs solely through current giving. DCC Foundation This year has also tested the Foundation Board members commitment to our cause. Im proud to report that the college can depend on the dedication of our members, and I want to thank everyone for the time, effort and resources they have offered to the College community. The Foundation has a clear mission: to provide the best educational opportunities for Dutchess Community College students. Integral to this outcome is the Colleges very fine faculty and administration, so ably led by DCC President D. David Conklin. Our special thanks to Dr. Conklin and his entire team for providing another year of excellence in education for the people of Dutchess County. The Foundations work can succeed only through the support of our alumni and friends. Your commitment of financial support and your valuable time are deeply appreciated. I encourage all of you to join us for special events and lectures sponsored by the Foundation. The campus is buzzing with activity throughout the year, and a great place to begin your tour is the Foundation Office. Call us! The Foundation has a Finally, we know we can count on the participation of Dutchess County and the citizens clear mission: to provide of our region in the Foundations mission. Together we will continue to build social and the best educational economic value through educational opportunities for all of our countys residents. opportunities for Dutchess Community College students. 2009 ANNUALREPORT 3 3 educationconnecting is Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another. - G.K. Chesterton Dear Friends of DCC am so pleased to present the Foundations Annual Report. In difficult economic times, I you were there for us! Thank you for your continued generosity, for believing in our work and for always supporting our students. Together, were creating opportunities and opening doors that will serve our students for a lifetime. You may not often think about the profound impact your charitable giving has on our community, and how many students in Dutchess County have YOU to thank for enabling them to continue their education at Dutchess Community College. As you may know, Dutchess is serving a record number of students, many of whom need all the resources we can provide. Supporting our students through scholarships is the main mission of the Foundation. Patricia L. Prunty Each year several new scholarships are established. This year we added seven: Executive Director DCC Foundation § the Blanche Knapp Hart Memorial Scholarship, founded by her daughter and son to honor their mothers love of nursing; § the Agostino, Lidia & Mary V. Imperatori Memorial Scholarship, founded through a bequest in Mary Imperatoris will and set up by her niece according to her wishes; § the Jerry Lee Memorial Scholarship, founded by the family of the third DCC We are able to move president; ahead with optimism and § the Dorothy Leland Memorial Scholarship, founded by her son to recognize determination because of outstanding community spirit and hard work; people like you, who are committed to our students § the Jean D. Rock Memorial Nursing Scholarship, founded by her family to honor her dedication to patients and their families; and the mission of our Foundation. § the Zaida Swan Memorial Scholarship, founded by her sister to remember Zaidas contribution as a teacher in the DCC early childhood department; and § the Esther Williams Memorial Scholarship, founded by her son-in-law to honor her dedication as a nurse. There is always more we can do more scholarships to set up or educational enhancements to create on campus. We are able to move ahead with optimism and determination because of people like you, who are committed to our students and the mission of our Foundation. Now, more than ever, we need your continued generosity as the need for scholarships continues to grow. Thanks for always thinking of our students! 2009 ANNUALREPORT 5 5 educationchanging is The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live. - Mortimer Adler 6 2009 ANNUALREPORT New Board Members Brent A. Caster Christian W. Meyer Brent is a graduate of Marist College. From the early influence of his father, Chris was Moving up from his position as the Food introduced to various construction projects and and Beverage Manager of the developed a passion for working with his hands. Poughkeepsie Grand, he accepted the He was involved with construction trades all position of General Manager of the through high school leading him to Utica Grandview in 2007.