FLC raises over $4.6M for scholarships in celebration of investiture

Inspired by the investiture of President Heather Shotton, Fort Lewis College raised $4.68 million for student scholarships, more than nine times the original $500,000 goal. More than 70 gifts made the “Strengthening the Promise” initiative one of the most successful short-term fundraising efforts in the college’s history.

The campaign, which centered around the investiture celebration of Fort Lewis College’s 11^th president on April 9th and 10th, focuses on expanding access to FLC by removing financial barriers for current and future students.

The two-day celebration on campus highlighted the college’s commitment to access and inspiring donors to support FLC’s mission. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, Tribal leaders, elected officials, donors, and community partners gathered to commemorate Shotton’s presidency and reaffirm the enduring value of public higher education and the shared responsibility to sustain it.

The campaign was launched the first week of February, and reflects Shotton’s and the college’s commitment to college access and student success, said Lori Cook, vice president of Advancement at Fort Lewis College and CEO of the FLC Foundation.

“As she prepared for the investiture, President Shotton challenged our community to think boldly about what is possible when we invest in our students,” Cook said. “Our donors rose to that challenge in extraordinary ways, supporting scholarships that make college possible for students who might otherwise question whether they can afford it.”

By alleviating barriers to the cost of attendance, the funds will impact the entire institution for years to come. The gifts include funds for existing scholarship funds, new endowments, and planned gifts that will benefit future Fort Lewis College students. Donors chose to support a variety of areas across campus including academic programs in the School of Arts & Sciences, School of Education, the Katz Business School, athletics, and college wide scholarship support.

“I am deeply inspired by the commitment of this community and our donors to expanding college access,” President Heather Shotton said. “This outpouring of support sends a powerful message to our students that that their education matters and we are collectively invested in their futures.”