HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College Endowment Association has announced a $1.8 million gift from the estate of Ray and Dolores “Dee” Waldo, the most sizable contributions in the organization’s history.
This remarkable gift builds upon the Waldos’ long-standing legacy of generosity, following a previous $1 million donation just ten years ago. Their continued commitment to education will have a profound and lasting impact on Hutchinson Community College students for generations to come.
Ray Waldo attended Hutchinson Community College during the 1956–57 academic year before embarking on a successful career as an engineering technician with the Kansas Department of Transportation. Dolores, known to most as Dee, worked with Farmers Alliance Insurance Company in McPherson and later with Farm Bureau in Wichita. Married for more than 50 years, the couple shared a deep appreciation for hard work, community, and the transformative power of education.
Although they had no children of their own, the Waldos were passionate about investing in future generations.
“This extraordinary gift is a testament to Ray and Dee’s belief in the life-changing power of education,” said Cindy Keast, Director of the Hutchinson Community College Endowment Association. “Their generosity will expand opportunities for our students, helping remove financial barriers and opening doors. We are deeply grateful for their vision and the legacy they have created.”
Through this second transformational gift in just a decade, the Waldo legacy will continue to support Hutchinson Community College students by expanding scholarship opportunities and advancing other educational initiatives.
For more information on the Hutchinson Community College Endowment Association, visit www.hutchcc.edu/endowment.
