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BPCC Foundation Annual Drive

It's About You

Because of your generosity and that of other community partners, the BPCC Foundation disbursed a record 55 Scholarships and Awards to deserving students last year. THANK YOU!

Why Give to the BPCC Foundation?

To provide scholarship opportunities to all BPCC Students
To provide professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
To provide support for under-funded and non-funded school projects
To enable BPCC to offer valuable community support to help grow and stabilize our economy
keep changing lives for our citizens!

A message from Kelly McDade and the 2012 Annual Drive Committee:

Hello,

I am Kelly McDade, an Art Instructor employed with Bossier Parish Community College for just over seven years. This year, I am pleased to serve as co-chair of the 2012 Annual Drive because I believe that as educators we have the opportunity to profoundly impact the lives of our students. Our fellow employee and Annual Drive co-chair Roxie Johnson was so moved by the change BPCC made in her life, she decided to share it with us.

Roxie’s Story

I am Roxie Johnson, a Library Specialist who has been with BPCC for over 14 years. When I was asked to share my experience as a student with Bossier Parish Community College, I had no hesitation because BPCC employees, through their embracing me, educating me and believing in me changed my life.

Roxie Johnson At the age of 14, I quit school to care for my brother and sister after the sudden passing of our mother. As time progressed, I got married and gained a family of my own. Our family of seven was surviving on what little income my husband was bringing in; and at the time, that was not much. As a mother, wife and homemaker, I took pride in caring for my family. But, I always dreamed of going back to school. I could see myself doing great things, but I could not get any good paying jobs because I did not have a high school diploma. This was a painful reality for me because I always wanted to appear strong and in charge of my life. My self-esteem was very low. Each day, I would tell myself that this would be the year that I went back to school. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into years. I looked up one day and found that I was a middle-aged woman with my best years behind me and no hope for my dreams to come true – so I thought.All of this changed in 1989. I summoned up the courage to enroll in the GED program at the Adult Learning Center run by Bossier Parish Community College. Boy, was I scared! But, the faculty and staff guided me through the process, step-by-step. I studied and completed my GED. What a happy day!

In 1990 I was encouraged to enroll at BPCC. Even though I had conquered my GED, I could not see how I could attend college, and besides, I knew we could not afford it. When I arrived to enroll, the employees helped me with all the paperwork. What happened next blew me away. They helped me with a scholarship. I could not believe it. Someone actually helped me pay for college. This was more than I could have hoped for. I went to school, pushed through the tough times, and the faculty and staff really helped me. They believed in me and over time, I came to believe in myself. I graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice. While I searched for a job in my field, I continued to work my part-time job at the Library. I was soon offered and accepted a full-time position in the Library and have been here ever since. I will never forget my first paycheck. It was not much, but to me, it might as well have been a million dollars. It was my very first real paycheck.

My dream had come true. I was now the woman I always knew I could be – working, self-sufficient, and self-confident. BPCC changed my life. (See the video of Roxie's story.)

This is Roxie’s story; there are many others just waiting for their dreams to become reality. Make your pledge today and together you, Roxie, and I will continue to change lives.

Sincerely,
Kelly McDade and the 2012 Annual Drive Committee

Please download a pledge formor click on the "Donate" button above.