LFCC Educational Foundation Annual Report
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2006 LFCC Educational Foundation Annual Report 20061 2 Message From Members of the Foundation Board he Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC) Educational Foundation Board is comprised of individuals who represent the College’s service region. These individuals bring with them expertise from a wide range of professions and backgrounds. What they have in common is a love for Teducation and the desire to further LFCC’s mission. Following is a glimpse of what makes serving on the Foundation Board meaningful and rewarding. “When I look in the mirror every night, I feel good about my service on the LFCC Educational Foundation Board, because…” “. I am committed to giving back to the College in “. I know that the money that individuals donate is order to provide the same life-changing opportunity I used to help students receive a high-quality education. experienced for all who desire to attend. I enrolled at As an alumna of LFCC, I am proud to tell anyone LFCC as an uneducated, single mom in my late 30s. who will listen to me about the excellent education I The education and self confidence I received, in the received, the professors who provided superb instruc- wonderfully supportive atmosphere with the personal tion, the friends I made, the activities I participated attention of the professors, allowed me to become a in and the enriching moments I had as a student. I’m self-confident, professional, productive member of the proud of the work of the Foundation Board, because community.” it enables students to have an opportunity for a better future.” —Diane E. Lewin, Treasurer of the Board; —Heather A. Painter, Retired Certified Public Accountant, Outreach Counselor, LFCC, representing the City of Winchester representing Shenandoah County “. I am helping others to obtain a good education “. I feel as though I am helping the students eco- and move on with their lives.” nomically through securing scholarships for those who otherwise would not have an opportunity to attend —Providence J. LoPresti, college. I feel honored that LFCC has the confidence Library Specialist, LFCC, in me to help achieve their goals as far as securing representing Frederick County scholarships and other donations.” —Mark E. Pangle, “. today, I may have provided an opportunity to Owner, Pangle Real Estate someone who would have otherwise missed out on a and Auction Company, chance to better themselves.” representing Shenandoah County —William J. Nordman, Real Estate Broker, “. I’ve been associated with the College for 27 Historic Properties Inc., years—two years as a full-time student and 25 as a representing Clarke County faculty member—and this gives me the opportunity to over 3 Message From Members of the Foundation Board show my appreciation for all LFCC has done for me “. It gives me the opportunity to help make higher and means to me.” education available to our community. Higher educa- tion has been an important part of my career advance- —Charles C. Spiro, ment, and I am pleased to be able to help make higher Assistant Professor of Electronics education available to others.” Technology and Information Systems Technology, LFCC, —James C. Youngblood, representing Shenandoah County CEO, The Marathon Bank, representing Frederick County “. I am helping individuals achieve their dreams by making education available to those who desire to learn.” —Sarah J. Yakel, Vice President and Trust Officer, Fauquier Bank, representing Fauquier County 4 Officers and Members LFCC Educational Foundation Board Officers (as of Dec. 31, 2006) • Anne C. Hall, Chair of the Board; Real Estate Broker, Long and Foster, representing Fauquier County • Charles E. Day Jr., Vice Chair of the Board; Owner, Charles Day Insurance, representing Shenandoah County • Diane E. Lewin, Treasurer of the Board; Retired Certified Public Accountant, representing the City of Winchester • John J. “Ski” Sygielski, Secretary of the Board; President, LFCC • Linnie S. Carter, Executive Director; LFCC Educational Foundation; Vice President of College Advancement, LFCC LFCC Educational Foundation Board Members (as of Dec. 31, 2006) • Kenneth L. Alger II, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Shenandoah County, representing Page County • Byron A. Brill, Peridontist, Byron A. Brill DDS, representing Warren County • Providence J. LoPresti, Library Specialist, LFCC, representing Frederick County • Heather A. Painter, Outreach Counselor, LFCC, representing Shenandoah County • Mark E. Pangle, Owner, Pangle Real Estate and Auction Company, representing Shenandoah County • Marielle K. Racey, LFCC student, representing Shenandoah County • Bob G. Sowder, President, The Sowder Co. Inc., representing Fauquier County • Charles C. Spiro, Assistant Professor of Electronics Technology and Information Systems Technology, LFCC, representing Shenandoah County • June M. Wilmot, Retired Economic Development Director, representing Frederick County • Ann R. Wiltshire, Retired Medical Professional, representing Frederick County • James C. Youngblood, CEO, The Marathon Bank, representing Frederick County 5 Dream Maker: Bob G. Sowder, Donor Profile hile serving on the Fauquier Sowder has continued to monetarily Chamber of WCommerce, Bob Sowder support LFCC throughout the years, and other community leaders were working to including the development of the open a college center in Bob G. Sowder Scholarship. Warrenton. The problem they faced was a lack of adequate facilities to opening of the new campus building occurred three house such an institution. Bob G. Sowder years later in 1999. The search was on to find someone who could afford to donate land or a facility “LFCC is one of the best ways for students to ob- to Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC) to tain an education and adjust to the rigors of college,” expand into Fauquier County. Sowder said. “I’ve always felt that an education is a way to help people pull themselves up by their Sowder didn’t immediately think about donating boot straps.” his farm, but one day when he was selling alfalfa, he looked at his barn in a different light. He noticed Sowder has continued to monetarily support LFCC that each of the stalls had a door on it and was a nice throughout the years, including the development of size room. He grabbed a tape measure and found the the Bob G. Sowder Scholarship. “I believe that you dimensions of the barn to be 60 x 100, making six nice get so much more than you give,” Sowder said. “I size rooms. meet parents and students who have benefited from the scholarship I established, allowing them to get an At the next chamber meeting, Sowder proposed the education when they might not have been able to oth- gift of his barn and an interest-free loan of $90,000 erwise. To have someone come up to you on the street, for renovations. After further discussions and consulta- put their arm around you and thank you for your tion with his accountant, Sowder later decided to give gift—you can’t get much better than that.” the College both the property and money. So in 1988, Sowder donated his barn to LFCC and began work- Semi retired from his career as a Realtor, Sowder is ing to renovate the building. After pouring his time, president of The Sowder Co. Inc. in Warrenton and energy and money into the renovation of the space, maintains ownership of a number of farms and com- it was completed in 1988 and appraised at $437,000, mercial and rental properties. He also breeds and raises including the three and a half acres accompanying the thoroughbred horses. gift of the barn. Without Sowder’s vision and generous donations, Sowder negotiated for, and the College was given, 50 LFCC would not be the institution it is today. “My more acres when he sold the remainder of his farm to goal in life is to give back. Every little bit can have an Fauquier County after the county threatened to take impact.” the property for public use. Following these negotia- tions and the additional land given to LFCC, in 1996, after much advocacy, the Virginia General Assembly appropriated $7.2 million to construct the current 60,000 square-foot classroom and administrative building on the Fauquier Campus. Celebration of the 6 Strengthening the Community: Diane Beidler, Donor Profile iane Peer Beidler wishes that The scholarship is a tribute Lord Fairfax CommunityD College to the life of Mr. Beidler and his (LFCC) had been around when she graduated from support of the Shenandoah Valley high school in 1958. area as a lifetime resident Unfortunately, it wasn’t, and college was not an and local business owner. option for Mrs. Beidler due to the cost of tuition. Fred B. Beidler Although she never pursued Store in Woodstock for 12 years. In 1945, with the a degree, Mrs. Beidler has taken a number of college help of his family, Mr. Beidler started Beidler’s Fur- courses over the years, including a few courses at the niture Store, a major appliance and furniture store, community college near her winter home in which he operated successfully for 28 years. Sebring, Fla. He married the former Diane Peer on June 15, 1963. “One of the ways that I think a community can grow Mrs. Beidler worked alongside her husband in the fur- is by offering the young people the means to obtain niture store until 1973, when they retired and sold the an education,” Mrs. Beidler said. “As tuition increases, business to the Cline family, which still operates the students, especially those from lower-income families, store under the same name. One year later, the couple need assistance to get out there and get an education.” became snowbirds, staying in Florida during the win- ter months and living in the Shenandoah Valley during It is this philosophy that motivated her to establish a the remainder of the year. scholarship through the LFCC Educational Founda- tion in 2006 in memory of her husband.