Dorene Hope Shank memorial (by her family and friends)

Dorene Hope Shank was a teenage mother with two young children to support, and after obtaining her GED she enrolled at OCC and graduated magna cum laude.

Dorene knew firsthand the challenges facing struggling students and how important scholarships are. Her life experience and her passion for golf motivated her to become the driving force behind the OCC Golf for Scholarships Outing, one of the largest fundraising events hosted by OCC.

Golf also introduced her to the love of her life, Jim Shank, an OCC fire training instructor. They met on a golf course and six years later married on the same tee where they met. Sadly, two months prior to her wedding, Dorene was diagnosed with cancer. Less than two months after the wedding, Dorene lost her brief battle with the disease. Her death left a void in the hearts of her family and friends, and all who knew her.

It was Dorene’s fervent wish to leave a legacy for OCC students like her in the form of a scholarship. The 2004 Golf for Scholarships Outing was dedicated to Dorene’s memory, with a portion of the proceeds and contributions from a large group of admirers making Dorene’s scholarship a reality.