WNC sees rise in aid applications, donor numbers

Western Nevada College is seeing a surge in the number of applications for financial aid for students, as well as donors giving money to the institution.

But the total amount of money received has dropped off.

Applications have risen 30 percent over last year, according to Lori Tiede, director of the Financial Assistance Office at WNC. Tiede said they are getting a lot of special requests from people due to changing employment circumstances.

"There are a lot of people who have been laid off, and they want us to use their income from 2008 and not 2007 to qualify," Tiede said.

Federal loans and Pell grants given to WNC students total $1.2 million more this year than last year, and that figure doesn't include the summer session, Tiede said.

Helaine Jesse, vice president of development and external affairs, said she started noticing the rise in donor numbers as she saw a lot of thank-you notes going out.

A comparison of the number of donors from July 1, 2008, to March 1, 2009, with the prior year showed an increase of 29 percent.

"I think it speaks well of the college and the importance people place on higher education," Jesse said. "I think we do a good job with donors, making our case to them about the college."

Jesse said that their work on donor retention is a major factor in their success.

"We take care of our donors, sending out prompt thank-you notes, staying in touch," Jesse said.

Although the number of donors is up, the total amount given is down 24 percent.

"We'll have to do the best we can with the money we receive," Jesse said. "We are good stewards of people's money."

For the 2008-09 school year, WNC has awarded $132,931 in scholarships, a 12 percent increase over the prior year, and 112 percent increase from six years ago.