With everything happening around the college’s budget and the state’s ongoing education cuts, it can be easy to forget what’s working. But at Shoreline College, hope and gratitude recently took center stage during the first-ever Donors & Scholars Celebration Dinner—an emotional evening celebrating connection between students chasing their goals and donors making those goals possible.
Hosted by the Shoreline College Foundation, the event took place during the first week of fall quarter, bringing students, donors, alumni, faculty, and staff together in the Pagoda Union Building’s Main Dining Room. The celebration recognized the $361,900 in scholarships awarded to Shoreline students for the 2025–2026 academic year, funding 171 annual scholarships made possible entirely through donor support.
Guests shared a dinner featuring vegetarian, dairy-free, and vegan options, along with a rich lava brownie for dessert. Tables were carefully arranged to mix donors, scholarship recipients, and custodians, encouraging conversation and connection throughout the evening. Before dinner, students received their scholarship certificates directly from donors at their tables—a touching moment that set the tone for the night.
College President Dr. Jack Kahn opened the event by expressing deep appreciation for the community’s support, especially in a difficult financial year for the college.
“We’ve had several cuts in funding this year,” Kahn said. “But we’ve also had donors ask, ‘How can I help the college?’ That kind of support means a lot—especially in challenging times.”
The keynote speaker, State Senator John Lovick, a Shoreline alumnus from the class of 1979, shared his personal story of transformation through education. Raised in segregated Louisiana, Lovick found belonging at Shoreline after serving in the Coast Guard.
“No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you,” Lovick said. “All that I am, and anything I will ever be, I give a lot of credit to this wonderful college.”
Student speaker Kay-Ann Simo Tov, a business intelligence and data analytics major from Jamaica, delivered one of the most emotional moments of the evening.
“When I received my scholarships, I thought I was going to drop out,” she said. “Receiving that support changed my life. […] helped me model for my children what perseverance and education can achieve. That quarter, I ended with a 4.0 GPA.”
Wendy Coates, Executive Director of the Foundation, reflected on the lasting impact of connecting donors and students.
“It feels like I do important work,” Coates said. “What I do matters—not just in the moment, but years from now when these students graduate and go on to change lives. But really, it’s what the donors do through me. They’re the story.”
Throughout the evening, students personally thanked Coates and Foundation staff members for their efforts. “You don’t know what this means to me,” one recipient told her after receiving her certificate.
The Foundation is now preparing for its next major event—the Giving Table Luncheon, the largest fundraising event of the year at Shoreline. Nearly 300 donors and community members are expected to attend to hear how their gifts have impacted students and to give generously. Scholarship recipients will once again play a key role, sharing their stories and gratitude as the Foundation aims to raise more than $100,000 to continue expanding its scholarship offerings and support for students.
As guests left, the message of the night was clear: the new tradition had begun with success, and the bonds between donors and scholars will continue to shape Shoreline’s story for years to come.
