Several of the new scholarship endowments reflect the growing partnership between WITC and area business or professional organizations in providing qualified employees for today's work force. Endowments established by area businesses include the Northern States Power and Northern Clearing Scholarship funds. Financial support through scholarships is one way to encourage individuals to choose these career areas. Other endowments donated by area residents include the Henry C. and Susan Martinsen Scholarship and the Lee Howard Scholarship, a gift of Bud and Leona Smith of Bayfield. Ogilvie, who established a scholarship endowment in 1999, said that scholarship endowments appeal to donors for a variety of reasons.
Endowments provide a way to make a lasting gift for future generations of students.
Scholarship, equipment and other restricted funds make up over 75 percent of the total revenue. The WITC Foundation attributes much of their success of their scholarship program to the designation of matching funds for endowment gifts. We greatly appreciate what individuals in our communities do to promote education. What is perhaps most rewarding about the scholarship program is knowing that so many of WITC's students will live and work in our communities after they graduate, and will help future generations in the same way.