Southwestern College students seeking scholarship opportunities do not have to look very far.
They just need to call on the assistance of the Southwestern College Foundation.
Established in 1982, The Southwestern College Foundation raises money to support students through scholarships, and fulfill some of the college’s financial needs that are not covered by the general fund, said Executive Director Zaneta Salde Encarnacion.
In 2015, Salde Encarnacion said the foundation awarded nearly $40,000 in scholarships to SWC students, and more than $50,000 in campus mini-grants.
The mini-grants fund special programs that are not in the college’s budget, as well as providing financial assistance to help students with educational experiences such as competing in student contests and university tours.
Continuing its work, the foundation took on a pilot program, The Southwestern College Promise, which will provide free tuition and enhanced support services for first-year graduates of the Sweetwater Union High School District.
“The major priorities for the foundation moving forward is to build a strong alumni association/network and to fund the scholarship portion of the Southwestern College Promise,” Salde Encarnacion said.
The new program will start with 250 students in the 2017-2018 academic school year.
Currently, the foundation is raising the $100,000 needed to start the pilot. Salde Encarnacion said the campaign launched on Nov. 4 with $20,000 raised so far.
Money for the foundation is raised through two fundraisers each year and through annual giving. Donors can give money every month or every quarter.
Salde Encarnacion said several college employees give payroll donations every month.
Salde Encarnacion is nearing her first full year as the full-time executive director of the Southwestern College Foundation, a new position recently created to make the foundation more effective. She was hired away from South Bay Community Services after a year as their engagement director. Prior to that she was the South County Regional Outreach Director for the San Diego Foundation.
“I love foundation work,” she said. “I’m happy to be at Southwestern College because I love higher education. I started my career working at UCSD for 12 years so its kind of coming full circle back to higher education.”
Last year, the college created a whole new department for the office of development and foundation to create a job opening for an executive director.
Her $ 102,216 salary will be paid through auxiliary funding, which is revenue generated outside from the general fund.
As executive director, her duties consist of building relationships with alumni and donors, raise awareness about the foundation and share student needs with the community.
