DANIELSON — Only a few days after starting her tenure as the fourth president of Quinebaug Valley Community College, Carlee Drummer, Ph.D, has taken steps to show the community her commitment to the students in northeast Connecticut.

Drummer and her husband, Michael, have established and endowed a scholarship at QVCC that will help a deserving student to lighten the burden of increasing tuition. The President’s Scholarship will be added to the growing number of endowed scholarships managed by the QVCC Foundation, a group of volunteers that raise funds which provide the opportunity for students to attend QVCC, regardless of income.

While she has not settled on the criteria for the Presidential Scholarship, Drummer is leaning towards a second year QVCC student who has maintained a 3.0 GPA and is focused on a path to transfer or enter the workforce.

“My husband and I feel it is important for leadership to set an example,” said Drummer, who is no stranger to the business of fundraising, having served as executive director of the Educational Foundation at Oakton Community College in Illinois. “We wanted to demonstrate our commitment to the community in a tangible way, and also encourage others to give,” she added.

“With an uncertain economy, students are feeling the pinch of tuition increases,” she said. “The goal of the Board of Regents is to keep tuition as low as possible, but even a 2 percent increase can have an impact on a student’s ability to pay.” Drummer is quick to point out that even with modest tuition increases, “QVCC offers an enormous value for the first two years of college education.”

Monique Wolanin, director of college development, said the Drummers’ commitment to endowing a new scholarship and setting the tone regarding the importance of philanthropy at QVCC. “Carlee’s initiative to create a scholarship fund prior to formally assuming the role of QVCC’s president reflects her genuine commitment to QVCCstudents and her belief in the QVCC Foundation’s mission,” said Wolanin. “On behalf of the generations of students who will benefit from this scholarship fund, sincere thanks to both Carlee and Michael Drummer for their generous gift.”