Colorado Springs - November 28, 2023 - The Pikes Peak State College Foundation (PPSCF) announces an agreement with the trustees of the Frank Macon Trades Scholarship Charitable Trust (Macon Trust) to provide annual trade scholarships to returning PPSC students in perpetuity, on Thursday, December 20.
2023, the Macon Trust will hand a $50,000 check to PPSCF to begin funding the scholarships. The media is invited to join PPSC and the Macon Trust at the endowment check ceremony on December 20, 2023, at 2:30 pm.

The Macon Trust was established by Franklin Macon, a Tuskegee Airman who was raised in Colorado Springs. After a successful career in the skilled trades, Frank wanted to return that favor of success to future generations. The Trust bearing his name has been providing trade scholarships to promising students since its founding in 2019.

“Receiving this endowment at PPSCF will allow many students, now and in the future, the ability to chase their dreams without the stress of figuring out how to pay for their education. Having personally met Mr. Macon, I understand how important higher education was to him. We are thrilled that the Macon Board of Trustees are continuing with Mr. Macon’s wishes and that they selected PPSCF to begin this endowment,” says Donna Nelson, Chief Development Officer, Pikes Peak State College Foundation.

The mission of the PPSCF is to enhance opportunities for student success by providing financial support for student scholarships, programs, and projects. With the financial support of the Macon Trust Trades scholarship, PPSCF will continue its vital work of resourcing and enhancing opportunities for PPSC students. The education and experience provided to students enrich the region because those students apply what they have gleaned from their education to the greater community.

“Up until now, our scholars have been funded directly by the trust,” said Mark Dickerson, Co-Trustee. “We intend to continue that practice, but we see endowments like this as the next logical step to reach as many aspiring tradespeople as we can. It’s a pleasure to team with PPSCF to make this happen.”

Anyone interested in a career in the skilled trades is encouraged to learn more about the Macon Trust at macontrust.org. “Whether you plan to attend PPSC, or to learn a trade at any other institution in Southeastern Colorado, Frank would have wanted to help you,” Dickerson assures. The endowment ensures the scholarship will continue to fund trade education, funneling trained personnel into the trade industry for years to come.

For pictures of Franklin Macon, please check the press kit: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PPM3ablxITz4RKvtdykdAbk4RzYiWylu?usp=drive_link.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Rachel Tyrrell
Content Coordinator, PPSC Marketing and Communications rachel.tyrrell@pikespeak.edu
(719) 715-3297