Scholarships are a critical part of Durham Technical Community College’s overall strategy for student success. Many of the earliest gifts to the Durham Tech Foundation were designated for a general scholarship fund, with named scholarship funds following soon after.
The first endowed scholarship at Durham Tech was established in 1988 by O’Brien Atkins Associates, PA for students enrolled in the Architectural Drafting program. Since then, 91 scholarships have been created — split evenly between endowed and annual awards.
The Foundation’s signature event is the Annual Scholarship Breakfast. First held in 1991 — with a brief hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic — this year’s event will take place Thursday, April 2, at The Cotton Room in Durham.
The purpose of the Scholarship Breakfast is twofold: to celebrate the generosity of our donors and to recognize the achievements of our scholarship recipients. This special gathering unites students whose educational journeys have been transformed by scholarship support with the donors who made those opportunities possible.
Durham Tech’s mission is to ensure that all students develop the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to be successful in college, work, and life. The College strives to be a leader in our community’s educational, training, and economic development. The Durham Tech Foundation advances that mission by raising awareness, friends, and funds to support student success.
Scholarships may be funded through annual donations of $1,000 or more, with a commitment to provide funding for at least two consecutive years. Permanently endowed scholarships may be established at the $25,000-plus level to support scholarship awards in perpetuity. Annual or endowed scholarships can be named in honor or memory of an individual — such as The [Name] Scholarship — or created to pay tribute to someone or something personally meaningful to the donor.
Scholarship funds may be established with a single gift or built over time. Some families make annual contributions that are awarded each year. Others contribute to their scholarship fund in lieu of traditional holiday gifts, honoring friends and family through charitable giving. Still others establish an endowment gradually, making annual gifts until the $25,000 minimum threshold is reached.
Donors are invited to help shape the criteria for their scholarship awards. For example, scholarships may support students pursuing a particular course of study — such as Nursing, Early Childhood Education, or Skilled Trades — or reflect other priorities that align with the donor’s interests and values.
To learn more about establishing a scholarship at Durham Tech, please contact Liz McFarlane, Director of Development for the Durham Tech Foundation, at mcfarlanee@durhamtech.edu or (919) 495-8257.