The Gateway Technical College Foundation has surpassed its fundraising goal by nearly $1 million to support a free tuition program for eligible students.
The foundation announced this week it has raised $3.93 million for the college’s Gateway Promise program, exceeding its initial target of $3 million.
Gateway Promise provides three years of free tuition to eligible students in Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties.
The campaign received recent contributions from Michael Kopper, founder and CEO of Centrisys Corp., and his wife Michele Whitfield, as well as Gateway supporters Otto and Beverly Tarnowski.
“Each of us have a responsibility to improve the lives of others,” said Bryan Albrecht, president and chief executive officer of Gateway Technical College. “The Gateway Promise is a commitment our community has made in youth for generations – the promise of an affordable path to a college degree through Gateway Technical College. It is humbling to know how much our donors believe in, and trust the mission of, Gateway to nurture the hopes and aspirations of youth and adults.”
Once federal and state aid have been applied, the Gateway Technical College Foundation’s Gateway Promise endowment scholarship fund covers tuition, provided the student meets certain requirements.
Promise program students also receive academic support services. The college said nearly nine out of 10 Promise students remained in college after their first semester, compared to a national average of five of every 10.
