SKAAREN LEGACY

From Rochester to Hollywood. When you start at RCTC, you can go anywhere! Warren Skaaren, a 1966 alumnus from Rochester State Junior College (predecessor to RCTC) went on to become one of the most successful screenwriters of the 1980s.

Skaaren worked on well-known films including Top Gun (1986), Beetlejuice (1987), Beverly Hills Cop II (1988), and Batman (1989). During this time, Skaaren maintained a close connection with his long-time mentor, Robert (Bob) Wise, Associate Dean of Students at RCC. Sadly, Skaaren passed away from cancer on December 28, 1990.

In 2021, the Warren Skaaren Charitable Trust committed to fund $75,000 in scholarships to make a college education accessible and affordable for high-need students, especially those that have faced barriers to receiving an education such as students of color and single parents. In 2021, this donation provided scholarships ranging from $1,000-$5,000 to 13 students with high needs.

Amon Burton, Trustee of the Warren Skaaren Charitable Trust, met the 13 Skaaren Scholars and members of the Skaaren family at a reception in October. Burton says, “RCTC meant a lot to Warren. He told me often how important the College was in his life, how he had matured here, and how much his relationship with Bob Wise meant. The College was a very formative experience in his life.”

Warren Skaaren 1946 - 1990 Burton continues, “Warren was an exceptional person. He created his Trust so that he could continue to make a difference. These scholarships will help students develop their abilities, choose the careers they want, and move on to the next stage of their lives. It is rewarding and humbling to see Warren’s legacy continue by helping these students succeed.”

Burton says, “I repeatedly encourage people to give serious thought to setting up a charitable trust in their wills and estate plans. Since Warren’s passing in 1990, the Warren Skaaren Charitable Trust has given away far more to the causes Warren cared about than the gift in his will to establish the Trust. And what is amazing is the Trust still has funds to continue Warren’s legacy for many more years.”

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SETTING UP AN ENDOWMENT OR LEAVING A GIFT TO THE RCTC FOUNDATION IN YOUR WILL, CONTACT THE RCTC FOUNDATION AT 507-281-7771 OR FOUNDATION@RCTC.EDU.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

“The scholarship will help me achieve my goals without going further into debt with student loans. I have many student loans but have never been in a good spot to pay anything back. I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders when I found out that I got the scholarship. It has decreased my worry in wondering how I am going to pay for everything. It has impacted my confidence as it helps me get that much closer to my goals.”

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

“I know what I want to do, but it is incredibly difficult to succeed educationally if you must work and raise a child. I work 3 part-time jobs and even with a generous Pell grant, I barely get by. This scholarship helps to ease some of the stress of wondering how I am going to make enough money to pay for rent, pay for books, and afford gas to get to school.”

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

“When you have experienced adversity, you come out the other side wanting to make sure others don’t go through the same things you have or that if they do there is someone there to help. So, when you give a scholarship, you aren’t just investing in me, you are investing in everyone I will be able to help. I just want you to know I will make that worthwhile.”