20th GCCEF Scholarship Monte Carlo Night set for April 5

Life itself is a game of chance, says Germanna Community College President David A. Sam.

 "And Germanna Community College is about second, and even third, chances," he says.

A little bit of Las Vegas comes to Culpeper on Saturday, April 5, when the Germanna Community College Educational Foundation's 20th annual Scholarship Monte Carlo Casino Night returns to the Daniel Technology Center, located about 30 minutes west of Fredericksburg, just off State Route 3.

 But buying a ticket, or even better, becoming a sponsor for Monte Carlo Casino Night, is no gamble, Sam says. It's more than a roll of the dice.

 It's a sure thing.

 Monte Carlo Night is what they would call in Las Vegas "a mortal lock"--that is, at least in terms of helping local students who have financial need, and helping to jump-start the area economy at the same time by making its workforce more competitive.

 The black-tie event has become a highlight of Culpeper's social season, while providing scholarship funds for the GCC Educational Foundation's Germanna Guarantee Program.

 That program ensures that students with financial need who cannot find enough aid from other sources get the funds necessary to fill in the gaps paying for tuition and books. Over $1 million has been raised over time and  In the past year, 200 students were helped.

Erica Hodge  is a prime example. She thought her college career was over and her dream of a nursing career was dead.

But the Germanna Guarantee Program kept the 1999 Spotsylvania High School graduate and Culpeper resident going.

 Hodge didn't qualify for other financial aid because her husband made too much money before his hours were cut due to the recession. GGP covered the total cost of her tuition and books.

 "Fresh out of high school, I was too young to know what I wanted to be.  I realized that nursing is what I want to do,” she said. After being a stay-at-home mom for years, she was on her way to her goal when it looked like the recession was going to stop her cold in 2009.

      "I wasn’t eligible for any grants or scholarships based on my husband’s  income level,” she said. “The Educational Foundation listened to my story… I was shocked, ecstatic and very grateful. It covered everything. That was huge weight off my shoulders after one of the most stressful months of my life.”

She received an academic excellence award for having the highest grade-point average in her class, was a speaker at 2010 graduation, and became a nurse in the Fredericksburg area.

Single tickets are $90 and sponsorship levels ranging from $350 to $5,000 are available.
For more information, contact the GCC Educational Foundation at foundation@germanna.edu or 540/423-9074 or Event Chair Clarissa Berry at 540/718-0000 or clarissa.berry@gmail.com.

Germanna serves the city of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, Culpeper, King George, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania and Stafford.

Sponsorship includes signage at the event, listing in the 20th Anniversary Scholarship Monte Carlo program and recognition in local media.
For more information, please contact:
Clarissa Berry, Event Chair clarissa.berry@gmail.com 540/718-0000
GCC Educational Foundation Office foundation@germanna.edu 540/423-9060

Event Sponsor ($5,000.00) Includes 16 event tickets, special recognition and signage at the event, a listing in the 20th Anniversary Scholarship Monte Carlo Program; headlines in all local media advertisements.
Titanium Sponsor ($3,500.00) Includes 12 event tickets and more.
Palladium Sponsor ($2,500.00) Includes 10 event tickets and more.
Platinum Sponsor ($1,000.00) Includes 8 event tickets and more.
Gold Sponsor ($750.00) Includes 6 event tickets and more.
Silver Sponsor ($500.00) Includes 4 event tickets and more.
Bronze Sponsor ($350.00) Includes 2 event tickets and more.