The Oregon Coast Community College Foundation is proud to announce the award of $136,000 in scholarships to 98 students for the 2026–2027 academic year — the largest scholarship investment in the foundation’s history. The awards come in a year of record demand: 121 students applied for foundation support, the highest number ever, making this one of the most competitive scholarship cycles the foundation has seen. Awards span 33 named and donor-designated scholarships alongside the OCCC Foundation’s general scholarship fund, supporting students across nursing, aquarium science, education, business, welding, the arts, and more.
Each application was reviewed and scored by a panel of volunteer judges who ensured every app was read at least three times. The depth and range of stories they encountered made for one of the most meaningful — and difficult — scholarship cycles in the foundation’s history.
“I was genuinely moved by the stories in these applications,” said Jeanette Campagna, Director of Advancement. “These are students who have overcome homelessness, immigrated alone as teenagers, returned to school as parents, and cared for sick family members — all while pursuing degrees and certificates that will change the trajectory of their lives. Reviewing these applications reminded me exactly why the work of this foundation matters so deeply to our community.”
The 2026–2027 cycle featured the debut of several new named scholarships, including awards from Annette Mulee, theFalch Family, Dr. Birgitte Ryslinge, and Kempton and Fawn Hewitt. Returning donors including Linda Johnson, Alison Baker and Roger Chickering, Sandi and Ron Williams, Samaritan Health Services, the Yachats Ladies Club, VFW Post 3156 Waldport, and many others continued their longstanding generous commitments to Lincoln County students. In all, 33 named scholarships were awarded this year.
Beyond named scholarships, the OCCC Foundation awarded general foundation scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 to an additional 34 students — ensuring that high-scoring applicants who didn’t fit the specific criteria of a named award still received meaningful recognition and support. These Foundation scholarships were made possible in part by funds raised by generous donors from throughout the community who attended Pearls of Wisdom, held in March. The Foundation’s largest fundraiser is focused on raising funds for academic scholarships.
The Foundation acknowledges that with a record number of applicants and finite resources, not every deserving student could be funded this cycle. “We want every applicant to know that submitting this application took courage, and we read every word,” said Campagna. “The competition this year was extraordinary — students we could not fund would have been award recipients in many prior years. We encourage everyone who applied to apply again next year as you continue your OCCC journey, and we remain committed to growing our scholarship capacity so that one day, no qualified student is turned away.”
About the OCCC Foundation
The Oregon Coast Community College Foundation supports the mission of Oregon Coast Community College by raising and stewarding funds for scholarships, programs, and student success initiatives. The foundation serves Lincoln County students at all stages of their educational journey. For more information or to make a gift, visit www.oregoncoast.edu/foundation.