EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FUNDING REPORT
NCTC FOUNDATION DANCING TO THE STARS – BOWIE COMMUNITY CENTER
Some of Montague County’s brightest stars traded their work shoes for dancing shoes at the Dancing to the Stars competition on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the Bowie Community Center. Hosted by the North Central Texas College Foundation and the Bowie Rotary Club, the event raised over $50,000 to support scholarships for Montague County students, as well as other charitable initiatives. Guests were treated to an evening full of music, laughter, and spirited competition as local dance duos dazzled the stage with their moves. The night concluded with Travis and Renee Hart taking home the People’s Choice Award, while Cameron and Meredith Gunter claimed the prestigious Championship Mirror Ball Trophy!
JANUARY 2026
ART AUCTION MASTERPIECES THAT MATTER DENTON CAMPUS Masterpieces that Matter was a student art auction event hosted by North Central Texas College Foundation in partnership with the Greater Denton Arts Council to raise money for student scholarships in Denton County. The event featured artwork donated by NCTC students and held a silent auction where attendees could purchase these original pieces. The event took place on the NCTC Denton campus and also featured live music from the NCTC Jazz band. Over the course of the evening, attendees viewed the student art pieces and placed their bids. This event was a great opportunity to support NCTC students by providing scholarships and giving student artists a chance to have their work seen and featured in a show.
SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE 2025-2026 SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED: 1,985 TOTAL AMOUNT OF ENDOWED
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED: $187,146
TOTAL ASSETS FOR THE FOUNDATION
$17,723,696.27 TOTAL CONTRIBUTION FOR THE FOUNDATION OCT. 30 - NOV. 30
$120,211.90
(AS OF NOV. 30TH)
STUDENT EMERGENCY FUNDS SEPT. 1 - NOV. 20
39
STUDENTS AWARDED EMERGENCY AID
TOTAL DISTRIBUTED FUNDS
$15,438.28
NCTC FOUNDATION DONOR SCHOLAR BREAKFAST GAINESVILLE CAMPUS
The North Central Texas College (NCTC) Foundation hosted its annual Donor Scholar Breakfast on Friday, November 7, on the Gainesville campus. The event honored scholarship recipients and the donors who make their education possible, providing an opportunity for students to personally thank their supporters. NCTC Foundation President Phil Neelley welcomed guests and expressed gratitude to donors for their continued support of the scholarship program. He introduced the Foundation Board and highlighted its mission to “positively impact lives and enhance the future of our communities.” Neelley also emphasized the Foundation’s role in serving students across all NCTC campuses, including Gainesville, Denton, Corinth, Flower Mound, Champions Circle, Bowie, and Graham. Debbie Sharp, Executive Director of the NCTC Foundation, announced the launch of the Red River Promise Program Banking Challenge, a partnership with local banks to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Red River Promise Program. She announced the inaugural contributors to this challenge: Muenster State Bank, First State Bank, First United Bank, 4U Credit Union, Prosperity Bank, Jacksboro National Bank. Collectively, participating banks have pledged $127,500 over the next five years to the Red River Promise Endowment. She also thanked additional donors for the Red River Promise Program. The NCTC Foundation, together with friends of Charles Draper, sought to honor his enduring legacy as a devoted alumnus and community leader whose impact on our college and community remains profound. In recognition of his lifelong service and commitment, the NCTC Foundation established the Charles Draper Memorial Scholarship, which supports the Red River Promise Endowment. Sharp recognized the major donors to this scholarship at the breakfast. Sharp also introduced the Denton County Scholarship Campaign, which raises funds to support Denton County students. The inaugural contributors to this campaign include: Wood, Thacker, & Weatherly PC, DATCU, State Farm – Matt Friess, Liberty Landscape Management, Point Bank, and Mark Merki & Associates. Several other scholarships were also highlighted: • The Alex and Amanda Payne Scholarship, created to assist Denton County students in continuing their education. • The Frank and Dorothy Knapp Scholarship, established to support veteran single parents residing in Denton County. Ten scholarships will be awarded annually. • Dr. Linda Creagh’s Scholarship Fund, expanded to support Denton ISD students pursuing technical degrees at NCTC after their first semester. Dr. Creagh also contributed to her Emergency Aid Fund to assist Denton County students in need. • The Bud and Lynn Peters Scholarship, established to benefit graduates of Era, Valley View, Lindsay, Muenster, or Callisburg high schools. The Bud and Lynn Peters Success Fund was also created to provide additional student assistance. • The Cooke County Extension Education Council – Dual Credit Scholarship, expanded to include dual credit students active in the 4-H Program. Additionally, the Greater Texas Foundation contributed an extra $10,000 to the NCTC Foundation Emergency Aid Fund, which supports students facing unexpected financial hardships. Over the past four years, the Foundation’s contributions have helped hundreds of students remain enrolled and on track toward their degrees. NCTC Foundation Board Member Lee Russell introduced scholarship recipients Shekinah Areloegbe and Dawn Aguirre, who shared their stories and expressed gratitude for the support that helped them pursue their academic goals. The event concluded with remarks from NCTC Chancellor Dr. Brent Wallace, who thanked donors for their generosity and congratulated all scholarship recipients.
NCTC FOUNDATION DONOR SCHOLAR LUNCHEON GRAHAM CAMPUS
The North Central Texas College (NCTC) Foundation hosted its annual Donor Scholar Luncheon on Wednesday, November 19, on the Graham campus. The event celebrated scholarship recipients and the generous donors who support their education, giving students the chance to express their gratitude in person. NCTC Graham Foundation Board member Kristi Rigsby welcomed guests to the Graham campus. Foundation Manager, Cody Ford, recognized donors who provided scholarships for students on the Graham campus over the past year. Jo Ann Pettus was thanked for her support in continuing to fund the Jo Ann Geurin Pettus Nursing Scholarship. This scholarship was established to help assist NCTC LVN students obtain their LVN certificate. The MJ Brown Scholarship for LVN to RN Transition students was established in memory of M.J. Brown who served faithfully as a leader for the Samaritan Ministry of First United Methodist Church for over 20 years. Southern Bleachers and the Pettus family were also thanked for their continued partnership and significant scholarship support. Debbie Sharp, Executive Director of the NCTC Foundation, thanked The Graham Benevolent Foundation—led by President Edwin Graham IV and Vice President John C. Graham, whose family founded Graham in 1872—for demonstrating a longstanding commitment to advancing education and community development in North Central Texas. Since the establishment of the North Central Texas College Graham campus in 2009, the Foundation has provided generous financial support, including full funding for the construction of the LVN-ADN Program Simulation Lab and Debriefing Room, that has significantly enhanced nursing education and training. The Graham Community Foundation was also thanked for their recent funding for the renovation of the two new classrooms. These rooms will house 50 student desks each-allowing for more students to take in person classes on the Graham Campus. These classrooms will also be available for non-profits and the Graham community to reserve the space for meetings and trainings. Dr. Samantha Purdy, head of the Graham nursing program, gave attendees an update of the new LVN to RN transition program while Charise Bewley, Director of the Graham Campus, introduced four student speakers Jackeline Gutierrez, Paul Andrade, Yanelie Ramirez, Nayeli Ramirez who all shared their gratitude to donors for the scholarships they received. The event concluded with remarks from Debbie Sharp, who thanked donors and reiterated the impact all the donors are making in changing lives in Graham.
2025-2030 STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE The NCTC Foundation has been diligently working on the 2025–2030 Strategic Plan to strengthen our impact and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students. Highlights from the first quarter include the development of an alumni campaign to reconnect with NCTC graduates, the launch of a planned giving initiative to encourage donors to create a lasting legacy through their estate gifts, a Denton County Scholarship Campaign to increase scholarship opportunities for Denton County students, and the establishment of six new endowed scholarships.
KPI
Baseline 8-31-2024
Year 5 Targets
1 Year Targets
1st Quarter Results
$17,561,654
$9,000,000
$1,800,000
$377,553
Donor Retention Rate
412/939
54%
54%
55.40%
New Scholarships Created
8 (23/24)
24
5
6
Active Alumni
309
371
74
80
Corporate Partners
718
780
150
89
Endowment Funds
$16,340,530
$20,000,000
$731,894
$300,000
422
528
106
118
Total Funds Raised Annually
New Donor Acquisition
ALUMNI ALUMNI DATABASE UPDATE AND MARKETING PLAN
This report provides an overview of the alumni data update project and outlines the proposed communication and engagement plan for the upcoming year.
ALUMNI DATABASE UPDATE
The project began with 157,548 alumni records exported from Jenzabar and sent to Alumni Finder for appending. Alumni Finder returned updated email information for 113,117 records. After applying the priority rule that preserves the original email address whenever it exists and uses the updated email only when the original field is empty, a total of 138,308 valid email contacts were identified. These consist of 62,069 original emails from Jenzabar and 76,239 additional emails provided through the update process. METRIC
COUNT
EXPLANATION
Initial Input Alumni Records
157,548 entries
The total number of records in Jenzabar that we sent for appending.
Alumni Finder Updates
113,117 emails
The number of records for which Alumni Finder provided an email address.
Total Net Valid Emails
138,308 contacts
This total comprises: 62,069 original contacts from Jenzabar and 76,239 contacts from Alumni Finder’s update.
DATA OVERVIEW
To understand the alumni population, we analyzed alumni distribution by birth year. Numbers rise steadily in early decades, accelerate after the late 1950s, and peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with 1993 representing the largest cohort (4,374 alumni). Despite these younger cohorts being the largest, initial re-engagement efforts will focus on alumni born in the 1960s and 1970s, as this group better aligns with current resources, expected response rates, and giving capacity.
ALUMNI EMAIL CAMPAIGN PLAN The email campaign is designed to guide alumni from initial re-engagement toward meaningful, long-term support. It begins with a reconnection message in December 2025, followed by a structured series of newsletters and targeted emails through September 2026. These communications will reintroduce alumni to NCTC, share regular updates, collect alumni stories, highlight achievements, and build momentum leading into the 2026 fundraising launch. The campaign concludes with stewardship and ongoing engagement efforts to sustain connections and prepare alumni for future initiatives. DATE
Theme/Objective
Key Content Focus
Reconnect: Reintroduce NCTC to alumni and begin rebuilding the relationship.
Holiday greeting and introducing future updates.
Newsletter 1
Engagement: Provide a broad community update to reestablish familiarity and pride.
Campus news, an Alumni Spotlight, and notable achievements from across the college.
Feb 2026
Email 2
Survey: Invite alumni to share their NCTC journey to build a story bank for future use.
Call for personal stories, examples of how alumni stories inspire students, and an easy response channel.
Mar 2026
Newsletter 2
Engagement: Maintain regular communication and deepen alumni awareness of current work.
Campus updates, early Gala previews, upcoming events, (and a call for alumni volunteers.)
Dec 2025
Email 1
Jan 2026
Apr 2026
Email 3 Spotlight: Celebrate alumni achievements.
May 2026
Email 4
June 2026
Newsletter 3
Feature short stories/links highlighting alumni making a difference.
Pre-Giving: Soft call to sustained engagement and showcase impact.
Recent successes, student support stories, impact data, and gentle encouragement to stay involved.
Engagement: Provide mid-year updates and maintain steady outreach.
Campus news, upcoming summer or fall events, and initial notes on emerging initiatives. Student scholarship needs, alumni impact stories, and a clear call to donate.
July 2026
Email 5 Fundraising Launch: Direct appeal for donations.
Aug 2026
Email 6
Stewardship and Momentum: Thank supporters and highlight early progress.
Appreciation to early supporters, early campaign progress, and reminders of how alumni contributions make a difference.
Sep 2026
Newsletter 4
Engagement and Year in Review: Major updates and continued relationship building.
Start of the fall semester, major college updates, alumni and donor stories, and upcoming events.
GRANT DEVELOPMENT The NCTC grants department has been successful in securing funds to support the mission of the college. For this three-month period, grant development, award and grant implementation began in November 2025 and continued through January 2026. Two grant applications were completed and submitted to the funding agency for review for a total possible funding of $325,000. Several new year applications are under consideration and/or in the process of development for application for 2026.
PROPOSALS SUBMITTED 1. FEDERAL GRANTS NCTC supported application efforts with UT Dallas for a consortium grant from National Science Foundation for the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME). This grant provides funding for establishment of Regional Nodes of excellence to accelerate, expand, and improve microelectronics talent development across the United States. NCTC will be a Sub Awardee to this grant, funding estimate is $75,000. This grant application is pending. 2. TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION STATE GRANTS: NCTC submitted our application for TWC’s Jobs and Education for Texans Grant opportunity for 2026. NCTC prepared and submitted the TWC 18-month grant application for $250,000 to support build out of the Electronics Lab in Gainesville, providing full lab equipment for instruction of Electronics Technician certifications. This grant application is pending.
SUCCESSES
NCTC closed out our Texas Higher Education Coordination Boards Texas Reskilling and Upskilling Through Education (TRUE) 2023 grant performance period with a 96.3% execution of funds and all milestones achieved. This program supported 39 students in the completion of an Occupational Skills Award programs in either Bookkeeping or Data Analytics. Additionally, 23 students attended advanced certification boot camps and a total of 55 Basic and Industry certifications were awarded or achieved.
THANK YOU “I plan to start the radiology program. This scholarship motivates me to continue my studies and to work harder to make my peers and myself proud.” Graham, TX | Dorothy Louise Williams Scholarship Radiology Tech Major
“I plan to pursue a career in cybersecurity. This scholarship means that I will be able to work harder in what I want and to get that focus that I need and feel more confident that I can do it.” Graham, TX | Kodi Hill Degler Memorial Scholarship Cybersecurity Major
“I plan to begin a career in pediatrics in nursing. Receiving this scholarship, makes me grateful for the opportunity to be considered and appreciative for the help.” Nocona, TX | Louise Conley Davis Scholarship Associate Degree of Nursing Major
“My career plans are to get into business management. This scholarship means support. Having people give generous donations to me to help my future really means a lot and reminds me that I should never feel alone in anything because people always have my back.” Saint Jo, TX | Mickey & Henry Spaeth Scholarship Business Management Major
MARKETING COMPLETED TASKS OCT. - DEC. 2025
GRAPHIC DESIGN | 176 PRINTING | 179 MEDIA | 66 MERCHANDISE | 30 WEBSITE | 82
Our email campaign for Spring 2026 registration was sent to
500,000+ EMAILS in our service area.
SPRING 2026 EMAIL CAMPAIGN
Fall 2025: NCTC participated in 22 EVENTS, either sponsorships and signage and/or attending and tabling at the events.
22 EVENTS
EVENTS BY COUNTY COOKE | 9 DENTON | 9 MONTAGUE | 3 GRAHAM | 1
SBDC Hosted by North Central Texas College
For 39 years, the North Central Texas Small Business Development Center (NCTSBDC) has served as a leading resource for entrepreneurs across Denton, Montague, and Cooke Counties. Hosted by North Central Texas College, the center continues to provide high-impact advising, training, and business resources that empower local small businesses and fuel regional economic development.
2025 IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMIC IMPACT NEW BUSINESS STARTS | 61 JOBS CREATED | 314 CAPITAL INFUSION | $12,440,485
CLIENT REACH CLIENTS/BUSINESSES SERVED | 860 UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES SERVED | 720 These outcomes reflect the resilience of local entrepreneurs and the center’s commitment to helping businesses start, grow, and succeed.
COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES
The NCTSBDC provides a robust suite of services that address the needs of both emerging and established businesses: Business Advising & Development •Start-up planning and feasibility analysis •Expansion and growth strategies •Access to capital and loan packaging support Marketing & Digital Presence •Brand development and strategic marketing •Social media and online presence optimization Specialized Expertise •Cybersecurity best practices •International trade and export assistance •Industry-specific consultations and referrals Through individualized advising and targeted training, the center equips entrepreneurs with essential tools to navigate competitive markets and achieve sustainable growth.
COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC GROWTH The NCTSBDC continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening the regional economy by: • Promoting entrepreneurship and innovation • Facilitating access to critical financial resources • Supporting workforce development through job creation • Delivering services that empower underserved communities • Encouraging business expansion into global markets As the business landscape evolves, the NCTSBDC remains dedicated to fostering economic vitality and helping local businesses thrive.
Please contact us at:
DIRECTOR: Lori Logan | 940-498-6470 | LLogan@nctc.edu WEBSITE: SBDC.NCTC.EDU
THANK YOU I plan to become a software engineer. Receiving this scholarship means so much to me. I have been working hard to balance a part time job while being a full-time student. This support will help relieve some of the financial pressure and allow me to focus more on my education. I am incredibly grateful for your generosity; it is not just financial help. Denton, TX | Linda Truitt Creagh PhD. Scholarship AA Computer Science Major “I will become a OR scrub nurse. It means so much [to receive this scholarship] I won’t have to try and juggle extra work hours to cover tuition. I am so grateful for this opportunity to better myself.” Denton, TX | Frank & Dorothy Knapp Scholarship Associate Degree of Nursing Major “My career plans include getting my bachelor’s in accounting and minoring in business management. I was a member of Upward Bound Math and Science in high school and graduated as valedictorian. This scholarship enables me to pay for college and care for my twins.” Gainesville, TX | Bellows Family Scholarship Business Management Major “I will become a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner and specialize in psycho-oncology. Receiving this scholarship allows me to focus more on my academics rather than worrying about financial issues. I chose NCTC because I am aware that its nursing program is excellent.” Valley View, TX | Mary Ellen Turbeville Scholarship Associates Degree of Nursing Major