Trends In Education
EDUCATION
INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION
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and to make expenditures to, or for the benefit of, Indian River
State College. To accomplish this, the foundation actively
supports the long-range plan of Indian River State College by
providing, but not limited to, scholarships, high-technology
equipment, faculty chairs, support of capital projects, and
improvements to further enhance student accessibility and
improve the learning environment at IRSC.
“The work of the foundation makes the difference between
mediocrity and excellence,” said Ann Decker, the foundation’s
executive director.
Money raised by it helps two-year and four-year students
achieve their goals, whether they are aiming for a technical
career, professional career, or something in between. Getting
them ready to enter the workforce and succeed is what the
college and the foundation do.
But that’s not all. For those who are retired or nearing retirement,
the foundation’s Lifelong Learning program offers
minicourses covering a large range of topics.
The foundation also honors the area’s most accomplished
entrepreneurs. This year, the recipient is Allen Osteen, CEO
of East Coast Lumber and associate publisher and co-founder
of Indian River Magazine.
The foundation is the lead agency on the Treasure Coast
for the state Take Stock in Children program with four staff
members who are paid by the state to help at-risk, low-income
children make it to college. In many cases, the mentoring
and assistance changes their lives. Student India White,
for example, went from an abusive home life to homelessness
to college and then to the teaching profession.
Unlike the kindergarten through 12th grade education
foundations on the Treasure Coast, the 55-year-old Indian
River State College Foundation focuses strictly on IRSC postsecondary
education. The 16-member, full- and part-time
staff is paid by a formula of percentages involving money
from the foundation, the college and the state.
Last year, it gave out $3.1 million in scholarships to IRSC.
The money came from gifts, and individuals.
“Every year the goal is to give more to students,”
Decker said.
Foundation donations also help build and equip IRSC buildings
such as the state-of-the-art Brown Center for Innovation
and Entrepreneurship and the Treasure Coast Public Safety
Building, which received $8.5 million from the foundation.
INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION
The strikingly beautiful, state-of-the-art Brown Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, above and at top, was partially funded by the IRSC Foundation.