This fall, Sonic Drive-In owners, Marsha and Wayne Cruchelow, represented just one of 25 area businesses to serve up support for higher education and workforce development through North Harris College’s community outreach project.

Through their donation of prime marquee space this fall, these community partners continued an advocacy program for higher education that began in 1996.
 
“Community support for the college comes in a wide variety of venues and is always graciously appreciated,” says C.C. Sutphen, NHC’s external affairs coordinator of special projects. “In addition to allowing North Harris College to use the restaurant’s marquee space, the Cruchelows initiated a 10 percent food discount for any NHC student (with a valid college identification card) dining at their Sonic Drive-In  location at 710 FM 1960 East .”

Additionally, several of the Cruchelow’s employees are currently enrolled at North Harris College including Xavier Delarosa, who is taking NHC concurrent credit courses while still in high school and Austin Kovski, who is studying core college courses that will transfer to a four-year university.

North Harris College, part of the North Harris Montgomery Community College District, serves more than 10,500 credit and 5,000 community education students each semester.

By participating in the project and contributing their valuable marquees along FM 1960, I-45 N and Louetta Road, area businesses and North Harris College continue to build partnerships that strengthen the economy and help to promote education throughout north Houston.

“All of the signs showed creativity, enthusiasm and sincere support for the college,” Sutphen says. “Owners and managers each had a story to tell about the college. They or a member of their family attended the college. Additionally, some of these businesses have hired NHC graduates or one of their employees is currently attending classes. North Harris College has made a tremendous impact in the community for the past 28 years.”

A conservative estimate of the value of these tax-deductible, in-kind contributions is more than $25,000. The marquees support the college’s marketing campaign and outreach effort, helping North Harris College’s message reach thousands of residents without additional cost.
 
The 25 businesses agreeing to participate in the marquee project for fall 2001 were: All-State Insurance, Atchafalaya River Cafe, Barney’s Bar-B-Q, Basel’s All-Star Gymnastics and Cheer Academy, Bubbles Car Wash Inc., Cajun Stuff, Cash America Pawn, College Bookstore, Copy Club, and Duffy and LaRoe Realtors.

Also: Front Porch Quilts, House of Creole (formerly Huey’s), Joe’s Crab Shack, Lone Star Quickprint, Paradigm Bank, Pawn One 1960, Plants For All Seasons, Precision Automotive Services, Ripley’s Muffler & Brakes, Sonic Drive-In, Strack Farm Restaurant, Sun Tint, Texas Apartment Locators, Walgreens (3833 FM 1960) and Wings N’ More.

For more information about becoming a community partner with North Harris College, call C.C. Sutphen at 281-618-5425. The commitment is a one-week marquee donation, which entitles the business to a tax-deductible, in-kind contribution receipt and their businesses being listed in a wide variety of the college’s publications.