The Scholars and Dollars Program

In 2002, Cottey College and the P.E.O. Sisterhood celebrated their 75th anniversary together! Cottey and the P.E.O. Sisterhood have successfully kept alive Virginia Alice Cottey's dream of educating young women. Since the 75th anniversary is the diamond anniversary, we've planned a gem of a celebration to commemorate the occasion: The Scholars and Dollars Program!

Who has the power to change a life?
You do! For more than 75 years, P.E.O.s have been introducing young women to COTTEY and an educational experience that changes their lives. Because this network is such a powerful force, the College has designed an incentive program to encourage P.E.O.s to do more for COTTEY: Scholars and Dollars.

What is it?
Scholars and Dollars is an excellent opportunity for P.E.O. chapters to become involved in the success of COTTEY and get recognition at conventions for their efforts. Chapters and their members may recruit students for the College and contribute to COTTEY’s Diamond Anniversary Scholarship fund, an unrestricted scholarship endowment established to celebrate the 75-year partnership between COTTEY and P.E.O. Scholars and Dollars continues until August 31, 2009, so chapters may achieve greater recognition at higher levels by increasing their contributions, referring additional accepted students, or through a combination of the two as in the chart below indicates.

Why does Cottey need your help?
We need assistance from P.E.O.s like you to identify, refer, and recruit students. You know of young women in your families and communities who would be perfect fits for COTTEY. That’s the Scholars part of the program. The Dollars part is about increasing the amount of available aid to enable these students to spend their first two years at COTTEY instead of another institution.

How does it work?
Chapters are encouraged to identify and refer students for admission and continue working with them during the application process. Once a student is accepted for admission, the referring chapter gets Scholars and Dollars credit. Chapters may also get credit through contributions to the Diamond Anniversary Scholarship. Gifts totaling $1,000 put a chapter at the Stunning Solitaire level, as does one accepted student. Even if an accepted student does not attend Cottey, the chapter still receives credit. Chapters can reach higher levels throughout the duration of the program.

Length of the Program
The Scholars and Dollars Program begins following its introduction at International Convention 2001 and continues through August 31, 2009. All totals are cumulative and a chapter may, over time, achieve and be recognized for all three levels.

The Four Cs.
Jewelers talk about the four Cs of diamonds: Color, Carat, Clarity, and Cut. Our diamond celebration program has four Cs as well:

• COMMUNICATE with prospective students and tell them about Cottey. Communicate with your chapter. Tell other P.E.O.s about Cottey, and share the goals of the Scholars and Dollars Program.
• CULTIVATE relationships with prospective students. Cultivate financial support as well.
• COMMIT to the challenge. Pledge to the campaign. Send the names of prospective students to the Office of Enrollment Management. Pledge your scholarship support.
• CONGRATULATE yourself on your success. All chapters who reach any of the three levels will be recognized and honored at their state convention, as well as at the 2003 and 2005 biennial conventions of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

For more information on gift opportunities at Cottey, please contact Wendy MacLaren, Dean of Institutional Advancement, Cottey College, 1000 W. Austin, Nevada, MO 64772, (417) 667-8181, ext. 2120 or email.