Together, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation (OCCF) and Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) are creating opportunities for students and boosting Oklahoma’s workforce.

Since 1997, OCCF has made 1,112 awards to OCCC students, totaling nearly $1 million. Since 2001, OCCF has awarded 196 first-generation OCCC students with scholarships totaling $278,059.

“Oklahoma City Community College is honored to partner with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to provide opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, president of OCCC. “Oklahoma City is fortunate to have the OCCF, such a valuable resource, working tirelessly to enhance our community.”

“Every member of our communities deserves the opportunity to reach their potential and fulfill their dreams,” said Trisha Finnegan, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. “With more pathways, we not only help more people but also meet more workforce needs, filling positions that impact each of us daily. OCCF is particularly proud to partner with OCCC as we have witnessed the depth of support they offer to each student, dramatically increasing student success.”

When Garrett Steinberg graduated from Edmond North High School in 2007, he immediately started his career in horse racing. First as a jockey, now working full-time as a horse trainer at Remington Park, “my livelihood has been horse racing up until this point,” he said.

The first-generation college student started thinking about next steps, with a long-term goal of working in a field where he can support his wife and daughters and enjoy his line of work while helping people in his field.

“Radiology is not something I knew much about before researching it. I have a friend who is a former jockey who is going into radiology, and it piqued my interest,” he said. “I have broken many bones, including my leg, neck and ankle, and have had many MRIs and X-rays, so I thought it would be a good fit for me.”

When he decided to go back to school, Steinberg realized he needed an associate degree before enrolling in a radiology program.

“I researched different local colleges and universities but decided on OCCC because of the large number of online classes,” he said, which allowed him to continue working full-time. “I need the flexibility to be able to work and go to school.”

Steinberg’s wife is a former OCCC student who took classes online while pursuing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Oklahoma. “She had a great experience and loved her time with her professors at OCCC, and that helped solidify my decision to begin my associate at OCCC versus another institution,” Steinberg said.

A scholarship from OCCF helped.

“The scholarship has greatly helped alleviate the cost of my schooling this year,” he said. “I was able to pay my tuition upfront and did not have to take out loans with interest accrual, which was extremely helpful.”

The Oklahoma City Community Foundation manages about 2,000 philanthropic funds valued at $1.6 billion and distributes about $45 million each year in grants and scholarship assistance to hundreds of nonprofit organizations and students.
The foundation’s goals include working to provide convenient, efficient and effective ways for donors to contribute assets for charitable purposes; encouraging donors to create funds that will benefit the community; advocating for developing endowment funds and providing a way for them to be built and wisely managed; and developing community endowments to meet the changing needs of the community.

More than 350 charities participate in the community foundation’s Charitable Organization Endowment Program. The foundation also has scholarship programs, grant programs and its own initiatives, including Give Smart OKC, the Wellness Initiative, the Parks and Public Space Initiative, and Keep Moving OKC.

Last spring, Lizbeth Ochoa from Santa Fe South High School was awarded the Women of the South Scholarship through OCCF. She used the scholarship to attend OCCC and pursue her dreams of becoming an immigration attorney. Working part-time and helping her family with child care, Ochoa appreciates how OCCC offers flexibility and support to students who work while attending college.

“OCCC is the solution for so many students working to fit higher education into their lives,” said Dr. Jones. “Our flexible class options and robust student resources provide the support students need to succeed in achieving their dreams in college and beyond.”