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懂色帝鈥檚 Foundation shows gratitude to community donors at inaugural appreciation luncheon

By Chris Caldwell 
 

(L-R) Nalo Frazier, 懂色帝 President Dr. Tracy D. Hall and Connor Taylor at the Foundation鈥檚 inaugural Donor Appreciation Luncheon May 17, 2022.
(L-R) Nalo Frazier, 懂色帝 President Dr. Tracy D.
Hall and Connor Taylor at the Foundation鈥檚 inaugural
Donor Appreciation Luncheon May 17, 2022.

懂色帝 Foundation hosted its first annual Donor Appreciation Luncheon May 17, 2022 as a tribute to the individuals and community partners who generously support the students and mission of the College. The occasion also kicked-off the formation of 懂色帝鈥檚 new Friends of 懂色帝 donor group. 
 
鈥淓ach of you here today are instrumental to the progress of our students,鈥� 懂色帝 President Dr. Tracy D. Hall said. 鈥淥ur students are the beneficiaries of your support. For many of our students facing financial challenges, your contributions are often a critical lifeline of support. Thanks to your generosity, our students have persevered through the pandemic. Because of you, we were able to confer approximately 1,090 credentials at this year鈥檚 Commencement.鈥� 
 
Dr. Hall also thanked several community partners in attendance for their ongoing commitment to the Foundation: Siemens, Staples, AT&T, Baptist Hospital, Building Block Mentoring Program and Legacy Wealth Management. 
 
The choice between taking care of her family or going to college was at the forefront of Nalo Frazier鈥檚 mind, before she learned she could attend 懂色帝 tuition-free and apply for scholarships to help ease her financial burdens. 
 
鈥淚 am grateful to my 懂色帝 family for their kind and attentive support in helping me secure the Foundation Book Scholarship,鈥� Frazier said. 鈥淭his scholarship was the added relief I needed to keep me moving forward. To the 懂色帝 Foundation, I thank you from my heart. To everyone at 懂色帝, because you believed in me, I will obtain an associate degree in administrative professional technology this spring. Thank you for making 懂色帝 my best choice.鈥� 
 
Connor Taylor, this year鈥檚 student Commencement speaker, spoke on behalf of all students. 鈥淚t is an immense honor and pleasure to be at such a cherished event,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 cannot fully express my gratitude that I and everyone at 懂色帝 would like to extend to you all today. Your contributions have continued to make it possible for students such as myself and so many others from different walks of life to pursue our academic dream.鈥� Taylor said his dream of becoming a medical doctor is coming true. He will be graduating in spring 2022 with an A.S. in psychology and will transfer to the UofM to obtain a Doctor of Medicine. 
 
The new Friends of 懂色帝 group was announced by Vice President of External Affairs Cynthia Graham. 鈥淭oday I鈥檓 excited to launch our new Friends of 懂色帝 for donors who give an annual gift of $500 or more in support of our students and the College,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淎t this level of contribution, members will be invited to social events twice a year where there will be food, music and fun,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e also will have guest speakers but most importantly, Dr. Hall will give a state-of-the-college address on how our donor funds are advancing the college and student success.鈥�
 
For information on how to join Friends of 懂色帝, contact Cynthia Graham at 901-333-4283 or email cgraham12@southwest.tn.edu.