Kaskaskia College President George Evans is elated with the more than $70,000 raised last Saturday night during the college’s 3rd annual Winter Gala at the Aviston American Legion.
Evans says it shows the community supports Kaskaskia College in a big way and they are eternally grateful for the strong support they receive from the public, friends at the KC Foundation, and the staff of KC. Over 300 were in attendance for the dinner and silent auction.
Evans says the Gala raised money to help the KC Now program.
“What this does is gives us an avenue to assist those high school students who are economically disadvantaged and can show the need to take college courses during high school outside of dual credit and really get a jump start on their degree. It started three years ago and it is finally starting to take off and we’re starting to see a snowball effect across the district.”
Under the program, students without assistance are responsible for 50 percent of the tuition costs, fees, and books for College NOW classes.
Breese Central Community High School Superintendant Dr. Dustin Foutch and the first graduate of the KC Now program, Kylie Stockmann, discussed the KC Now program and how the partnership with the local high schools tremendously benefits students to achieve their career faster. Stockman enrolled in the KC Now program as a senior at Mater Dei High School in 2021 to complete courses in the Residential and Commercial Wiring Program. She officially completed all her coursework in the program on December 7th.
Evans expects nine or ten of the 17 high schools in the Kaskaskia College District to be part of the KC Now program by the start of the next school year.
