DOWAGIAC — Cassopolis residents Andy and Duke Jones have established an endowment to provide scholarships to Cass County students attending Southwestern Michigan College, announced SMC President David Mathews.

Duke Jones says that he and his wife, Andy, were inspired to establish the endowment because of SMC’s importance to the Cass County community.

“For many students, especially students who are the first in their families to get a college degree, SMC is the perfect option to get a good academic start on a bachelor’s degree without incurring a lot of debt,” he says. “Andy and I were also impressed with the record of academic success for transfer students at SMC.”

After living in South Bend for many years, the Joneses now live full time at Diamond Lake.

“When I retired, I wanted some extra things to do and decided to get more involved in the Cass County community,” says Jones. “There are some very philanthropic people in Cass County, especially those who support the college, and Andy and I share that sense of giving back to our community. We hope to add to our endowment in the coming years to help local kids obtain a college degree.”

“The principal of the fund will always remain in perpetuity” said Eileen Toney, executive director of the SMC Foundation and director of Development at the college. “Subsequent contributions to this restricted scholarship will be matched up to $25,000 per fiscal year with 80 percent of the earnings to be used to fund a student scholarship that will be available for disbursement in 2016.”

The Southwestern Michigan College Foundation accepts contributions to existing scholarships such as the Joneses’ in addition to establishing new scholarships.

“SMC’s high retention and completion rate are a reflection of the academically-focused students we attract,” said President Mathews. “Endowments and scholarship funds such as the Andy and Duke Jones  Endowment ensure that college is not cost prohibitive to these high-achieving students.”

Donations to this endowment may be directed to SMC Foundation, Director of Development, 58900 Cherry Grove Road, Dowagiac, MI  49047.

For more information, contact Toney at 269-782-1301, etoney@swmich.edu.