PRESS RELEASE -- February 12, 2008
Bookstore helps needy students through textbook sales
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio -- Cougar Corner, Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s bookstore, has raised more than $10,000 for scholarships through an innovative textbook selling program.
Bookstore staff received recognition for this special program with an honorable mention from the National Association of College Stores (NACS) Foundation and their story was published in the May/June 2007 issue of College Store Magazine.
Inside Inspiration
The idea started two years ago when a bookstore student employee did not have the ability to pay her bills, and the bookstore assisted the student by giving her no-value textbooks to sell (books which are no longer used in MVNU classrooms) online. This raised enough money to pay the student’s bills and sparked an idea to begin raising funds for a scholarship books program for MVNU. Before graduation, this student developed a step-by-step handbook to follow so that bookstore employees could continue the fund-raising program.
Quick Growth
Over the past two years, more than $10,000 has been raised for the endowed scholarship, all through donations of textbooks from students. “It’s really nice to see students willing to help out others in need,” said Cougar Corner Manager Gina Blanchard. “Word is getting out, and the generous hearts of the students are showing.”
A Model Store
"We’ve received several requests from other universities about implementing our idea on their campus. This is when you realize you are really onto something special,” said Blanchard. “We have requested that our financial aid office select those who will receive scholarship money. We want to help those students with the highest financial need.”
The Cougar Corner staff hopes to double the endowment amount in the next two years, continuing to raise scholarship funds and help students with finances. For more information, visit http://bookstore.mvnu.edu or call (740) 397-9000, ext. 4455.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students and working adults. U.S. News & World Report ranks MVNU as a Best in the Midwest (Bachelor’s) institution for the third year in a row. With a 401-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and nine satellite Adult and Graduate Studies campuses throughout the state, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education to more than 2,600 students from 23 states and five countries/U.S. territories.
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