Western Carolina University

Staff Forum Establishes Fund for Fellow Workers, Families

"As the father of a college student, I know the value and expense of a college degree," says Terry Riouff, preventive maintenance coordinator and former chair of Staff Forum. "That's why I contribute to the Staff Forum Scholarship Fund."

It’s no secret that staff members at Western work hard every day, usually behind the scenes, to be sure that the university is running smoothly, that students are well fed, that campus computers are serviced, and that the grounds are manicured. But some staff members are working diligently on another project. Members of the WCU Staff Forum, which provides a staff voice in the university governance structure, are working to endow a new scholarship fund designed to benefit university employees, their children and their grandchildren.

Through individual contributions, including those made via payroll deduction, and through volunteer fundraising activities at Mountain Heritage Day and the Ramsey Center Indoor Yard Sale, the Staff Forum Scholarship Fund is nearing $10,000, the amount necessary to achieve official status as an endowed account. The fund took a major step toward that magic mark recently with a $2,000 secret contribution.

“Although the donor is an SPA employee who wishes to remain anonymous, I can say that this contribution was made in part to help encourage other employees to give,” said Terry Riouff, preventive maintenance coordinator and former chair of Staff Forum. And while not everyone can afford to make such a large single contribution, payroll deduction offers employees the chance to give significant amounts of money over an extended period of time, without feeling the financial pinch of a large one-time gift. Staff members may make contributions to the Staff Forum Scholarship Fund as part of the Campaign for Western.

“We realize that times are tough for staff members, but even a small monthly contribution of $5 through payroll deduction will go a long way toward achieving our goal of being able to start awarding scholarships to deserving students,” Riouff said. And, by contributing to the fund, faculty and staff will be helping one of their own. “As the father of a college student, I know the value and expense of a college degree,” he said. “That is why I contribute to the Staff Forum Scholarship Fund. If my monthly donation can help someone who might not otherwise be able to afford a Western education, it is a win-win situation.”