Annual Scholarship Celebration raises more than $180,000

By Marcia Wilson

“Little by little, a little becomes a lot.” — Tanzanian Proverb

On May 1, 2026, the Clover Park Technical College Foundation’s Annual Scholarship Celebration raised more than $180,000, surpassing the record set at the 2025 event.

Since 2005, the CPTC Foundation has changed countless students’ lives with scholarships and emergency assistance grants. For many, that support can mean the difference between staying enrolled and putting their educational goals on hold.

Behind every award is a story of generosity. Jamie Diedrich, the Foundation’s director of development, hopes the community understands the impact of every contribution.

“The funds that the Foundation disburses to students don’t just show up from a bubble,” Diedrich said. “They represent very real choices made by real members of our community—people who decided to share money from their family and personal budgets with students who might not have anyone. Those donors’ generosity, kindness, and selflessness are why we host the annual Scholarship Celebration. This event connects the people who have contributed their time, talents, and treasure with the students and stories who are the direct beneficiaries of those things.”

Throughout the year, the CPTC Foundation works to provide scholarships and emergency assistance to students facing unexpected financial challenges. While tuition and financial aid cover many educational costs, students often encounter expenses that can quickly become barriers to success—tools, books, supplies, transportation, food, and other essential needs that are not always covered by traditional funding sources.

For many CPTC students, these challenges are all too familiar.

“So many of our students face challenges that might keep others from even trying to go to college,” Diedrich said. “We hear time and time again from students the Foundation has provided scholarships and emergency funds to that they could not be here without the extra support.”

In addition to financial pressures, students often balance coursework with jobs, family responsibilities, and other commitments. During the Scholarship Celebration, nursing student Hauwa Bashir shared her experience with donors—offering a powerful reminder of the difference their support makes.

“There were times when it got so overwhelming, I felt like quitting school just to focus on life’s ‘other bills’,” Bashir said. “But knowing that there are people out there who believe in students like me—and knowing that resources exist—gave me the strength to keep going. Challenges became opportunities, setbacks became lessons, and persistence became my compass.”

Her message underscored the far-reaching impact of donor generosity—not just on education, but on students’ lives and futures.

“To the donors: you’ve invested not just in our education, but also in our lives and our future,” Bashir added. “You’ve turned stress into hope, bills into manageable tasks, and dreams into achievable goals. You are truly changing lives—one student, one bill, one dream at a time.”

While anyone can support the Foundation throughout the year, the annual Scholarship Celebration offers a special opportunity for the community to come together in support of students. Guests enjoyed an auction featuring locally donated items and unique experiences that showcase the best of Western Washington.

The event’s success depends on a tremendous team effort. Nearly 30 volunteers—including 14 students from the Lakewood Volunteer Council, along with CPTC faculty and staff—contributed more than 200 hours on the day of the Scholarship Celebration to prepare for and support the celebration.

Students also played a vital role in the evening. Like many of the college’s programs, this event moves theory into practice by giving students real-world experience while helping make the event memorable for guests.

“It goes a long way to demonstrate the strength of our programs to trust our students with the success of a high-profile event like the Scholarship Celebration,” Diedrich said. “Faculty from both the Culinary and Pastry Arts programs used the event to demonstrate how to do everything from assemble the menu and stay within the catering budget to prepare and present a multi-course meal for hundreds of guests. It shows the community that all levels of the college—board members, faculty, staff, community members, and students—participate in the success of fundraising to support our students.”

Guests enjoyed a wide variety of auction offerings, including nature-themed gifts, unique experiences featuring local restaurants and venues, tools, and artwork. This year’s event also highlighted an important milestone: the Foundation doubled its emergency funding limit from $500 to $1,000, reflecting the growing financial challenges many students face.

“$500 doesn’t keep up with the reality of our current economic state,” Diedrich said.

Dr. Joyce Loveday, CPTC president, reflected on the significance of the evening and the community that makes it possible.

“Each year, our Scholarship Celebration reflects the very best of our community—faculty and staff, trustees, local businesses, and so many generous donors coming together with a shared purpose,” Loveday said. “Their support is not just financial; it is transformational. For many CPTC students, Foundation scholarships mean the difference between making rent or facing homelessness, between continuing their education or stepping away from their dreams. Because of this community’s commitment, our students are able to stay focused, stay enrolled, and build a future filled with possibility.”

Little by little, gifts both large and small come together to create life-changing opportunities for CPTC students. Thanks to the generosity of donors, volunteers, community partners, and supporters, those opportunities continue to expand year after year.