Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech), through the LWTech Foundation, hosted its annual Bright Futures Benefit Breakfast on Oct. 30 to raise critical funds for students.
The fundraising event supports students with scholarships, program support and emergency funds. This year, the event raised an all-time high of $200,000.
The LWTech Foundation met last year’s challenge for $25,000, and served 75 students through the Bridge the Gap Student Emergency Fund (SEF). This year, they are hoping to meet last year’s challenge through the Bright Futures Benefit Breakfast.
LWTech President Dr. Amy Morrison Goings said the average SEF recipient receives about $468.
“A lot of our students work so hard to be here and do well…A lot of them are working full time, supporting families and big things sometimes happen that can take them away from completing their education,” Goings said.
She said it’s important that students feel secure enough to not have to worry about sacrificing their education if an emergency were to occur and they could no longer afford to attend LWTech.
The fundraising event featured a breakfast prepared by LWTech Culinary Arts students, as well as student speakers and inspirational short videos.
The event also honored Bob and Linda Tjossem for their continued generosity with their Tjossem Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports hardworking, highly motivated LWTech students. Since 2015, the scholarship fund has grown to $350,000 and provides 14 $1,000 student scholarships annually.
The LWTech Foundation honored Bob Tjossem with an honorary associate in applied science (AAS) degree in Welding Technology for his years of leadership, philanthropy and partnership with LWTech.
“We are grateful for the many years of support that Mr. Tjossem has given LWTech. Bob’s philanthropic leadership, in establishing the Tjossem Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, has allowed us to be able to continue providing the rigorous, hands-on training needed to prepare our students for today’s careers and tomorrow’s opportunities,” Goings said in a release.
The Benefit Breakfast concluded with a call to action with students who have received aid through SEF. For more information about LWTech Foundation, or what degrees LWTech can offer, visit https://www.lwtech.edu.
