Kenai Peninsula College has received the largest donation in its history from the estate of Jean Brockel, the widow of Clayton Brockel, founder of the college in 1964.
The $1.65 million donation comes from the estate left by Jean. The funds will be divided between the Brockel Family Scholarship Endowment and the John C. Brockel Scholarship Endowment. Kenai Peninsula College adjunct Mike Morgan, the executor of the estate, said that the Brockels would be more interested in doing what it takes to help the college now rather than sometime down the road. Morgan is tasked with determining how much of the funds can be spent yearly. He directed that $600,000 be distributed to each fund to get as much money out of the door as soon as possible.
The Brockels also donated land to Kenai Peninsula College that it could sell to generate income. Several parcels of land were donated over the years including a 12-acre in 2011 and a 14-acre parcel in 2017. They are being held till the economy recovers. To date, they have donated $2,593,307. The $1.65 million donation is the largest donation to Kenai Peninsula College in history.
The Brockel Family Scholarship is intended to benefit students in the humanities, fine arts and performing arts. The areas of study include but are not limited to: Art, Anthropology, Communications, English, History, Mathematics, General Studies, Alaska Native Studies and Psychology.
For the John C. Brockel Scholarship, it can benefit students studying for a particular profession, craft or job. These areas of study include but are not limited to: Accounting, Biology, Business, Nursing, Chemistry, Corrections, Early Childhood Development, Education, Firefighter Preparation, Fisheries Technology, Human Services, Marine Biology, Natural Sciences, Paramedicine, Process Technology, Industrial Process Instrumentation, Petroleum Technology and Welding.
Students interested in learning more about these scholarships should contact KPC’s Financial Aid office at [email protected] or 907-262-0332.
