OTC dedicates center for $1M gift

Ozarks Technical Community College officials today dedicated the Lewis Family Early Childhood Education Center, recognizing a $1 million donation from the late David Lewis.

Lewis - who earned his wealth through a roughly 40-year career at Sears, investments and frugal spending - left OTC in his will for student scholarships. He died in December 2009, according to the OTC website.

At the time it was received, the donation was the largest in OTC's history, according to a news release.

“Mr. Lewis was a hard-working man who believed in the value of education. The scholarships created by his gift will help to make an education possible for students at OTC for years to come," said Cliff Davis, executive director of the school's fundraising arm, the OTC Foundation, in the release.

Scholarships through Lewis' donation are earmarked primarily for students from his home communities in Taney and Stoney counties and those who are pursuing an education in business or technical programs.

The dedication ceremony was held this morning at the center, located on OTC's Springfield campus on Hampton Street - north of Central Street.[[In-content Ad]]