Student and employee efforts on top of free tuition offer

After separate fundraising drives by Dana College’s students and employees, the college is proud to announce that it has raised nearly $6,000 for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This money is on top of the offer of free tuition to college students displaced from their normal schools by the storm and its lasting damage.

On the student side, students took collections at the Sept. 3 Dana vs. Doane football game, as well as outside area businesses. In one day, the student effort was able to raise $2,300, which was donated to the Red Cross in Omaha.

For employees, Staff Council President Denise Work and Faculty Senate Chairman Dr. John Lyden sent a letter asking all Dana employees to give to a special Dana fund for relief. The letter also went to the Dana Board of Regents, who were asked to encourage their own institutions, companies and organizations to participate. Staff Council also elected to use their monthly “Denim at Dana” drive for the fund. “Denim at Dana” asks employees to donate to a charity each month in return for “permission” to wear jeans and Dana apparel on a designated Friday.

In all, the employee effort raised $2,332.61, which will be donated to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, who will match half that amount and donate the total to hurricane relief.

Work said she was happy to have been a part of such a worthy effort.

“I think (the drive) encouraged people at Dana like me who would always say, ‘I should give to that cause,’ but never get around to it,” she said. “It put something in their hands as a reminder and a deadline that was soon enough that it was still on the news and part of our daily conversations.”

Earlier this month, Dana announced that it was offering free tuition for the fall semester for up to five students whose educations have been disrupted by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast. Eligible students are those who were enrolled at one of the dozens of colleges and universities in the Gulf Coast that have been devastated by Katrina and may not reopen for the fall semester.

“We join the nation in extending our hand to those affected by Hurricane Katrina,” said Dana President Janet S. Philipp. “We hope that this small gesture can help in the process of recovery for a few.”

As of yet, no students have applied for the open spots. College administrators said they still consider the positions open and will work with potential students to get them caught up on their studies.

Dana College is a place where all students make things happen — in their own lives and in the lives of others. Through a highly supportive faculty and campus community, Dana students develop interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and other important values and knowledge as they make choices about their future. Dana’s outstanding academic programs in business, education and social work, among others, ensure that students have the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to pursue challenging careers or placement in graduate school.

Dana College is a private, liberal arts institution in Blair, Neb. To learn more, visit www.dana.edu.

Dana College: Develop talents, Take charge, Build a future — We’re with you all the way.

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For more information contact:

Sarah Cavanah
Communications Coordinator
Dana College
(402) 426-7216
scavanah@dana.edu