PJC holds reception for Annual Fund Campaign launch
Published or Revised April 19, 2013
At top, Paris Junior College Annual Fund Campaign Co-Chairs JoAnn Parkman, left, and Bobby R. Walters enjoy a laugh with those assembled as they talk of the importance of supporting the campaign. In the bottom photo, PJC student Kirstie Farmer, recipient of the Clara Popham Scholarship, spoke of how the scholarship was enabling her to take the first steps toward realizing her dream of becoming a nurse practitioner.
Attendees at the Paris Junior College reception officially launching the Annual Fund Campaign received a warm welcome from PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin Monday evening.
“Thank you for coming this evening to our first annual fund drive,” Anglin said. “As we look to the future with the decrease in state funding and having to rely more and more on students, the annual fund drive is crucial for us to help fund those items that we don’t have the resources through tuition and fees or state appropriations to fund.”
She next introduced a special guest, Kirstie Farmer, recipient of the Clara Popham Scholarship designated for a graduate of North Lamar High School. Farmer plans to be a nurse practitioner, and stated on her application: “I want to go to PJC because I’ve researched many colleges for nursing, and it is one of the best colleges for going into nursing or the medical field. I also want to go to PJC because I want to stay close to home, because I love Paris.”
Farmer explained how her family did not qualify for financial aid, but due to family medical debts and a sibling in college, she needed the scholarship.
“I knew when I got the scholarship that I would be able to fund my dream of becoming a nurse practitioner,” Farmer said. “I only have two classes left before I apply to enter the nursing program in 2014. I hope to still apply for a scholarship throughout my whole college education.”
“Sometimes we forget how much those scholarships mean to our students,” Dr. Anglin said. “And it can be the difference for them going to college.”
The Annual Fund campaign co-chairs, JoAnn Parkman and Bobby R. Walters, also spoke to those assembled.
“I’m excited about it,” said Parkman of the campaign, “I’m pleased, I think this is the thing to do.”
She described meeting with Derald Bulls, PJC institutional advancement and alumni affairs director, when he asked them to co-chair the campaign. “We went out of there on the wings of PJC, knowing this was the thing to do. I’m going to count on all of you to make this thing happen.”
“I’ve been to several different things last week, and a young woman I talked to was very complimentary of us doing this at this time,” said Walters. “People were very positive. We have an opportunity to make the institution more solvent than it’s been in years and years and years. I’m pleased that we’re going to do this.”
For more information about the campaign or making a donation, contact Bulls at 903-782-0276 or dbulls@parisjc.edu.
