Established in 1934, Lower Columbia College was founded during the Great Depression by community leaders seeking a better future for high school graduates. Today, LCC is a comprehensive community and technical college offering 70+ programs and serving over 4,000 students each year. Recognized for its excellence in nursing, workforce training, academic preparation, and athletics, the college serves as the educational center for the entire Lower Columbia Region. LCC Campaigns elevate opportunity for our students and our region. Funds will be raised over three years, 2023 through 2025.
Foundation names 2025-2026 Benefactor of the year Richar Nau, MD
The Lower Columbia College Foundation has named Dr. Richard Nau as the 2025-26 Benefactor of the Year. Benefactor honorees have a history of providing financial support to the foundation and/or significant volunteer service to the college. Most notably, contributions from honorees have substantially impacted college programs, students, and the community... Read the full article
Launching September 24: Help Students Cross the Finish Line
Our students work incredibly hard to reach the final stretch of their education, but sometimes one last financial barrier can stand between them and the finish line.
This Give More 24!, the LCC Foundation is launching the Finish Line Scholarship, a new fund designed specifically for LCC students who have exhausted all other available financial resources and need support to complete their education or transition into the workforce.
For some students, that may mean having just 5, 10, or 15 credits remaining to complete their degree or program, but no financial aid or other resources left to cover the cost. For others, the barrier comes after coursework is complete, when the cost of a required licensing, certification, or workforce exam stands between them and the career they have worked so hard to pursue.
Why Your Gift Matters
After investing months or years into their education, even a relatively small financial gap can put graduation or career plans on hold. A gift could help cover a student's remaining coursework, a required certification, a WABO welding test, the NCLEX-RN nursing exam, or other costs necessary to take that last step from education into the workforce.
The Finish Line Scholarship is intended to be that last resource when other funding options have been exhausted, helping students complete their degree or program, earn their credentials, and move forward into their careers.
From the finish line to the future
Help Us Reach Our $25,000 Finish Line Scholarship Goal!
This Give More 24!, the LCC Foundation has set a goal to raise $25,000 for the Finish Line Scholarship, helping students who have exhausted other financial resources overcome those final barriers to completing their education and entering the workforce.
We’re already on our way, with two generous matching gifts totaling $5,000 committed toward our goal!
Early giving begins September 8, 2026, leading up to the official Give More 24! day of giving on Thursday, September 24. Every gift brings us one step closer to our $25,000 goal and helps more LCC students cross the finish line.
The Opportunity Can’t Wait Campaign has already raised over $14.4 million to support scholarships, athletics facilities, and the new Center for Vocational & Transitional Studies. In addition, the Washington State Legislature approved $45.2 million for the new center—construction is now underway.
The LCC Family—faculty, staff, and retirees—plays a key role in carrying the campaign across the finish line. Every gift matters, whether through payroll deduction, estate planning, or giving in honor/memory of a colleague.
Campaign activities include Wear Your Support Wednesdays, trivia, prize patrols, and more fun events leading up to the campaign’s close on October 17. A friendly challenge is also underway: current employees vs. retirees in a participation competition, with a celebratory event for the winning group.
The new Welding Lab in the Center for Vocational & Transitional Studies will be named in honor of Allan Evald, who taught welding at LCC for 25 years. Known for his dedication and impact on countless students, Allan’s legacy is being recognized through a tribute made possible in part by the LCC Family Giving Campaign. This lasting recognition ensures future students will know his name and the difference he made in vocational education.
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Make a one-time gift or make a recurring donation and have it deducted right from payroll to avoid the fuss. Learn more and download your Employee Giving Form:
Through a planned gift to the Lower Columbia College Foundation, you create a significant and lasting impact on the lives of students in pursuit of higher education as well as ensuring the college's commitment to educational excellence well into the future.