The 2020 Cleveland College Foundation Scholarship Ceremony was held Dec. 4, on the Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) campus. Hosted by Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III, CUKC president, the annual event recognizes those awarded financial gifts by the Cleveland Foundation and other entities. This year there were 43 individual scholarships awarded, totaling $43,150.
Under normal circumstances, the ceremony would have included a banquet with scholarship recipients and the donors for each award in attendance. However, the pandemic required the Foundation to scale back their event for 2020. Although attendance had to be limited this year, all scholarship recipients could receive their awards as planned.
After welcoming the limited number on-site and those watching via Livestream on Facebook, Cleveland shared some history about the origin of the Cleveland College Foundation. Started by a group of individuals, alumni, and University leaders in 1997, it was meant to establish a corporate, not-for-profit entity that would receive donations and gifts to protect the future and the assets of the University. Included is the distribution of funds each year in the form of scholarships to CUKC students.
The annual gathering has become an event anticipated not only by students but also by CUKC staff and administration. Cleveland thanked all of those associated with the CUKC Scholarship Committee for their efforts to make sure the event could still be held, even during the unusual conditions caused by the coronavirus.
Cleveland closed by asking those who were scholarship recipients not to forget about those who will follow them. He reminded the audience that many people had made donations over the years to make Foundation gifts possible. He encouraged the 2020 recipients to pay it forward in the future with an endowed scholarship of their own after they are living in the “abundance and prosperity” brought by their profession.
To watch the 2020 Cleveland College Foundation Scholarship Ceremony, click here.
