Residents throughout the region will have an opportunity to support the Future Cougars of Color Scholarship Program when the Kalispel Tribe hosts a dinner at Northern Quest Casino, 6 p.m. Thursday April 19, at Northern Quest Casino in Spokane (Airway Heights), Wash.
The dinner is a partnership between WSU, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Northern Quest Casino, which agreed to underwrite the cost of the food and facility. Every dollar raised at the event will support the Future Cougars of Color Program.
The event is billed as an opportunity for people to support the past, present and future of diversity success at the university. WSU President Emeritus Samuel Smith, President V. Lane Rawlins, and incoming President Elson S. Floyd, will be in attendance. Rawlins, who is retiring in June, will give the keynote address.
“This is an opportunity for people to learn about and support one of WSU’s most effective scholarship and retention programs,” said Rawlins. “In the program’s short three-year history, 264 outstanding students of color with an average grade point average of 3.61 have participated.”
In spite of the program’s success, said Milton Lang, associate vice president for the Office of Equity and Diversity, the capacity to help more students has not been reached. “There are many more students out there with tremendous potential for higher education,” Lang said. “But for many of them, college cannot be an option unless they receive financial support.”
Approximately 600 people are anticipated at the dinner, which could become the largest fundraising event in WSU’s history. “The entire university has rallied behind this event and people from many different disciplines have been actively engaged in seeking partners from around the Inland Northwest and beyond,” said Lang. “They all have a vested interest in advancing diversity at WSU.”
As Floyd prepares to take the reigns of the presidency in a few months, he said receiving support from the community is essential to helping WSU achieve its diversity goals. “This is a great opportunity for WSU to partner with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and the greater Spokane region in support of making WSU accessible to more underrepresented students,” he said. “I am really looking forward to meeting people at the event.”
The cost for an individual to attend the dinner is $150. Individuals, organizations or corporations can reserve entire tables at a cost between $1,000 and $15,000 each. To register for the dinner or for more information about the partnership levels and their benefits, visit www.supportfcoc.wsu.edu.
