College celebrates scholarships

Center backers enjoy Recess

Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation donors, college administrators, faculty and students gathered for the foundation’s annual scholarship luncheon Feb. 20 at the Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies on the Bentonville campus. The event is an opportunity for the groups to get to know each other.

Connor Lockaby, current scholarship recipient, thanked scholarship donors for their support. “The scholarships tell students that someone believes in them — that they will be successful.” Bolstered by a scholarship and professors who reaffirm that he can be successful, “I feel more resolute than ever” to complete his degree.

The school awarded 357 scholarships worth more than $320,000 for the 2017-18 school year. Of those, 247 were privately funded, and 110 were from the proceeds of the Plant a Seed Gala and general donations, said Karen Donahoe, annual giving officer.

The foundation’s 2018 Plant a Seed Gala will be April 27 at Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food in Bentonville.

Those lunching with the foundation included Ed Clifford, Chris Huggard, Annetta Tirey, Juanita Franklin, Jose Rodriguez, Ann Turner, Jessie Wagner, Jonathan Gilbert, Becky McCoy, Celia Swanson and Becky Paneitz.

Helen R. Walton Early Childhood Development Center backers gathered for Recess at the Hive on Feb. 24 at 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville. The evening included comedy from Raj Suresh, a multi-course meal by Chef Matt McClure of the The Hive and keynote remarks by Cate Gutowski, GE’s global vice president

of commercial sales and digital thread and founder of nonprofit If You Can See It, You Can Be It. The benefit helped bring in some $92,000 for the group.

Proceeds from the evening will go toward the nonprofit organization’s capital campaign to build the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center and Early Childhood Initiatives Center on J Street adjacent to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville. The new, larger center will house an expanded training center, library, collaboration room, computer lab and flexible space.

Next up for the group is the Spring Wine Pairing April 7 at Tavola Trattoria in Bentonville. Tickets are limited.

Those enjoying recess included Pam and David Lightfoot, Haily Jones, Menna Demessie, Dick Trammel, Lynne and Jim Walton, Becky and David Schoewe, Paul Savas, Sam Dean, Carla and Clay Johnson, Debbie and Kerry Pauling, Stephan Roche, Greg Fess, Susan Peacock and John Furner, Recess honorary host.

For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Kevin Anzana-Montoya (from left), Ariadna Valencia, Alondra Lopez, Senayda Flores, Angel Castro, Juanita Franklin and Israel Garcia Campos gather at the Northwest Arkansas Community College scholarship luncheon Feb. 20.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER and Jill Forga (from left), and Stephan Roche attend Recess.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Tom Pearcy (from left), Bailey Langford, Joey Gall, Jan Dolan, Beth Bolena and Alex Herre attend the scholarship luncheon.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Don Batson (from left), Brenda Franklin and Eric Woodward enjoy the scholarship luncheon.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER John Furner (from left) and Randy and Shannon Dixon visit at Recess at the Hive on Feb. 24 in Bentonville.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Jeff and Cate Gutowski (from left), Haily Jones and Pam and David Lightfoot help support the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center on Feb. 24.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Jose Rodriquez (from left), Ann Turner, Ed Clifford, Jessie Wagner and Jonathan Gilbert enjoy the NWACC luncheon.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Joe Spivey (from left), Connor Lockaby, Chris Huggard and Annetta Tirey gather at the NWACC luncheon.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Maury Peterson (from left), Dick Trammel, Kyle Peterson and Menna Demessie enjoy Recess at the Hive.