Three Rivers College staff put a twist on their usual December giving this year with Rocky’s Angel Tree, named for the Raiders mascot, in which employees “adopted” students’ families and provided for their Christmas needs.
“We were able to impact a number of families, ensure they had a great Christmas, everything from being able to fix someone’s heater so they can have heat for the winter, to clothes and shoes,” President Dr. Wes Payne shared with the Board of Trustees Thursday at their monthly meeting. “Our employees really stepped up donated a lot of work to wrap, gather, deliver.
“And the internal focus was a little bit different than what we had done over the years, and really resonated well with our employee community and our retirees.”
Payne expects Rocky’s Angel Tree to return next year.
Also in December was the most recent nurse pinning ceremony.
“On Dec. 15, we pinned our latest set of nursing graduates. They are all out, employed and working to pass their exams,” said Payne.
Chief Financial Officer Charlotte Eubank gave a rundown of financial trends. These were generally positive. Though revenue was roughly half of what it was this time last year, the difference comes from the expiration or alteration of grants.
“So that’s going to be an expected difference from one year to the next,” she remarked.
Tuition and fees accounted for 85% of the total $1,142,000 budgeted revenue.
“That’s a good spot to be in. This is in December, so this is halfway through the fiscal year. So this doesn’t have all of spring enrollment. And of course, summer will also ultimately be included in that number as well.”
She also highlighted a new short-term certificate of deposit the college filed with People’s Community Bank for $5 million, with an interest rate of 5.65%.
“We saw the opportunity with interest rates going up that we just got a short term, three-month CD there to get a little bit of return on some of the cash that we have,” Eubank explained.
TRC is also moving ahead with continued projects at the Westover Building and Academic Resource Commons.
The board accepted athletic an insurance bid from Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk in Quincy, Massachusetts, for $118,194. It was unanimously approved.