BMCC Student Gets Full-Ride Scholarship

Blue Mountain Community College student Terri Ehrlicher-Clark was notified late last week that she is the recipient of a fully-funded Ford Family Foundation scholarship to transfer to the university of her choice.

Ehrlicher-Clark is the second BMCC student to receive a Ford Family Foundation scholarship in two years; Nels Swenson, who graduated from BMCC last year and transferred to Oregon State University, was a recipient in 2015.

The Ford Family Foundation looks for scholarship applicants with unique attributes who may not have had the encouragement, opportunity or financial means to attend or complete their higher education. Candidates demonstrate an understanding of the value of hard work, taking responsibility, giving back and helping others. Ehrlicher-Clark meets these qualifications to a T.

A second-year student at BMCC, Ehrlicher-Clark started her post-secondary education at the BMCC Baker County Center in Baker City last year, and is working towards a degree in nursing. She plans to transfer to Eastern Oregon University this fall. Ehrlicher-Clark has a strong desire to help others.

Before her commitment to becoming a nurse, Ehrlicher-Clark wasn’t interested in becoming involved in leadership or community service. But now, she is a member of the BMCC Associated Student Government team, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and has begun working with the Pendleton Lion’s Club. In Ehrlicher-Clark’s own words, her life now is “night and day” from where she started.

Scholarships from the BMCC Foundation over the past two years have enabled Ehrlicher-Clark to pursue her goals of becoming a nurse possible. Now the Ford Family Foundation scholarship will allow Ehrlicher-Clark to continue the pursuit of her dreams. She received the Ford Opportunity Program scholarship, which is designed for single parents who are “head of household” and who are seeking a bachelor’s degree.

“It’s amazing,” Ehrlicher-Clark said of receiving the Ford Family Foundation scholarship. “This scholarship relieves me of life stressors and allows me to focus on school. It’s paving the way to my future, and is so huge I don’t even have words for it.”

Ehrlicher-Clark will graduate from BMCC with the rest of her Class of 2016 on June 10 at 7 p.m. at the Pendleton Convention Center.