The Allen Family Charitable Foundation in Enid was recognized for their Business Partnership with Northern Oklahoma College last week. Pictured (L-R): Anita Simpson, NOC Vice President for Financial Affairs; OSRHE Regent Steven W. Taylor; OSRHE Regent Courtney Warmington; OSRHE Chancellor Allison D. Garrett; Paul Allen, NOC President Dr. Clark Harris; Vice President for Community Relations and Development Sheri Snyder; NOC Board of Regent Jason Turnbow; NOC Enid Vice President Jeremy Hise. Not Pictured: Bill Mayberry. (Photo Courtesy OSRHE).
Allen Family Foundation, NOC, recognized for OSRHE Business Partnership
The Allen Family Charitable Foundation in Enid was among 27 business and higher education partnerships throughout the state that were recently recognized as innovative collaborations that further the education of Oklahoma’s workforce.
The businesses were honored last week at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Paul Allen and the Allen Family Charitable Foundation have invested in Northern Oklahoma College, making meaningful contributions to students and programs while enhancing the quality of life in the Enid area communities in accordance to their mission of “supporting organizations that have a track record of success in education, rehabilitation or development to help individuals transform their lives and contribute to the larger community or society”. For over twenty years, Northern Oklahoma College and the Allen Family have enjoyed a partnership centered around higher education and economic development.
Paul Allen, Entrepreneur, is a community and state leader who continues to invest resources for growing our businesses and developing our workforce. His family foundation has supported numerous NOC Enid student scholarships and grants through both the Enid Higher Education Council and the Enid Entrepreneurship Leadership Series. Additionally, the $2 million donation to establish the Allen Family Opportunity Scholarship through the Cherokee Strip Community Foundation assists Enid-area students achieve their dream of earning a college degree, especially those who are the first generation in their family to do so.
Allen and his late wife Joan have provided significant funding on the NOC Enid campus with projects such as the Failing Field Turf and the Integris Indoor Baseball Facility. Through the Allen family’s significant funding within the community, the David Allen Memorial Ballpark opened in 1999 and continues to be updated every year since. It is a successful public/private partnership involving the non-profit ballpark association plus the City of Enid, Enid Public Schools and Northern Oklahoma College. The ballpark is host to the NJCAA Division II College World Series and the NOC Jets Baseball team is proud to call it their home.
Most recently, their generous donation along with others helped raise over $11 million to construct the Advance Soccer Complex in Enid.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award is designed to highlight successful partnerships between higher education institutions, businesses, and the community to further cultivate the higher learning environment through State Regents’ Economic Development Grants. State Regents’ Chair Michael C. Turpen, State Regent Courtney Warmington, State Regent Steven W. Taylor, and Chancellor Allison D. Garrett participated in the ceremony, held April 27 at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Institutions involved in these partnerships provide $500 for tuition waivers to employees of the partnering businesses; internships that enable current students to work at the partnering businesses; faculty externships with the partnering businesses; and/or enhancement of the partnerships with additional equipment, materials or supplies. The State Regents provide a $500 match to the waivers.
“Our colleges and universities continue collaborating successfully with public, private and nonprofit partners to strengthen economic and workforce development across Oklahoma,” said Garrett. “Producing more workforce-ready graduates by increasing communication with employers and connecting students to the workforce sooner is a fundamental goal of ‘Blueprint 2030,’ the State Regents’ new strategic plan for public higher education. We are proud to recognize these partnerships and their positive impact on Oklahoma businesses and communities.”
Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public two-year community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services.
NOC serves nearly 4,000 students through the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid, and NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater. Of these students about 80% receive financial aid and/or scholarships. 75% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science; the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; and the Accreditation Commission for Education and Nursing.
For more information about Northern Oklahoma College please call (580) 628-6208 or visit the NOC website at www.noc.edu.
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