STARS: Students Transformed to Achieve Radiant Success

In the fall of 1996, SMCC students, faculty and staff initiated a fundraising campaign as a perpetual source of scholarship funding support for SMCC students. 

Two faculty members, Dr. Jerome K. Garrison Sr., and the late Lorraine Calbow, volunteered to lead the grassroots initiative. They exceeded their goal of raising a minimum of $100,000.00 in pledges and contributions from SMCC faculty and staff.

The acronym STARS (Students Transformed to Achieve Radiant Success) was chosen.  

In 2015, Several years after Loraine had retired from SMCC, Dr. Jerome Garrison was asked to establish a STARS Community Board and expand the fundraising efforts to include community members. As a result, two signature fundraising events emerged: the STARS Talent Show held in the fall and the STARS Gala held each spring. Additionally, the STARS breakfast has been added as a third exciting event.

Today the STARS fund currently has approximately $500,000.00 in donations and pledges. In addition, the college has awarded more than $160,500.00 of spendable funds to SMCC students in the form of scholarships from the fund.

Will you help us support students by donating to STARS? Your generous donation to STARS will keep giving for years to come because we award scholarships only on the spendable interest from the principle. By giving, you would be helping to create a bright future for our society and for our dynamic first-generation college students.