By Neftali Acosta
The Scene staff
Students, faculty, staff, alumni and other Missouri residents will soon be able to buy customized St. Louis Community College license plates.
The STLCC Foundation is in the final stages of getting approval from the Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles.
“It’s a great way to show school pride,” said Colleen Phillips, coordinator of alumni relations and annual fund. “You have to get (a license plate) anyway.”
The foundation raises money and distributes scholarships to STLCC students. The license-plate program will be a fundraising tool because people must donate $25 to be eligible to buy one.
The license plate shows the name “St. Louis Community College” on the left, in front of an image of the Gateway Arch. Along the bottom is the STLCC motto, “Expanding Minds. Changing Lives.”
It’s unclear when the state will give final approval to print the license plates. When they become available, photography major Ethan Tutor, 19, would like to get one.
“I’d like to show representation of my school,” he said. “People like to brag about their school.”
On the other hand, graphic communications major Larry Cox, 18, probably won’t be getting an STLCC license plate. He doesn’t drive to campus.
Cox always gets a U-Pass, which allows students to ride Metro buses and MetroLink trains for free.
“I’m good,” he said. “I prefer to not have to deal with the pressure of driving myself.”
The idea for the STLCC license plate came from Chancellor Jeff Pittman, who thought it would be a good way to promote the college and show school pride.
“Hopefully, people will (notice the license plate) when they see me at a gas station or anywhere I go and ask about it,” he said. “I can tell a good story about all the great things happening at St.Louis Community College.”
Another good reason to buy an STLCC license plate is that a portion of the cost will go toward scholarships, Pittman said.
“We raise as much money as we can to assist students with a wide variety of needs, like tuition, books or assistance with living (expenses) as they attend school,” he said.
The planning and approval process for the STLCC license plates has taken about two years. The DMV required 450 people to register in advance and donate $25 to the foundation to show their interest and support.
The DMV set a time limit of six months, but the college reached the goal in two months.
“A great community supports the college,” Phillips said.
The $25 donations from the first 450 people totaled $11,250, but that cost was covered by an anonymous donor. After the goal was reached, additional registrants made their own donations.
Registrations are now closed, but they will resume when the license plates are printed and available for purchase. At that time, those who have already registered will receive emailed notices, as well as letters that they will need to take to the DMV.
People interested in getting an STLCC license plate should email the foundation at alumni@stlcc.edu. Since any Missouri resident can buy one, current students, faculty and staff must still get parking passes to park on campus.