Skagit Valley College Foundation accepts $39,000 bequest, starts new scholarship

Skagit Valley College Foundation accepts $39,000 bequest, starts new scholarship

The Skagit Valley College (SVC) Foundation received a $39,000 bequest from the estate of Betty Jane Zygmanski in honor of her husband, the late Joseph T. Zygmanski.  Proceeds from her bequest have been used to create an endowed scholarship to provide financial support to SVC students in behavioral sciences. Endowments at the SVC Foundation are invested in perpetuity and only the earnings are expended each year for scholarships.

“Throughout their journey together, Betty and Joe Zygmanski devoted their lives to imparting the value of higher education and sharing the love of community,” said Carl Young, Director of the SVC Foundation.  “Through their generosity, they will continue to touch the lives of others for generations.”

Born to Jesse and Jane (Denkema) Watterman, Betty grew up in Duluth, Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota.  Although she was considered quite shy, Betty’s love of music, particularly the piano and violin remained vibrant throughout her life.  Her later years were filled with playing the piano for the residents at Chandler Square and later at Rosario Assisted Living in Anacortes.

In 1949, Betty married Joe Zygmanski.  Also a Minnesotan, Joe attended the University of Minnesota where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  The young couple left the Upper Midwest and moved to Anacortes in 1956 where Joe joined Skagit Valley Junior College and began teaching Psychology and served as director for the college’s adult disabled center.

Betty also joined the college faculty and taught English and music.  Joe was a member of the faculty at the college until he retired during the 1982-83 academic year.

The Skagit Valley College Foundation has been making student dreams a reality and supporting exceptional educational programs since 1978, thanks to the generosity of thousands of donors.  The SVC Foundation seeks to identify, promote, receive and manage gifts from individuals, corporations and other organizations.  All gifts to the SVC Foundation are managed in accordance with donor wishes.  To learn more, contact (360) 416-7717 or visit www.skagit.edu/foundation.