This gift can enrich your loved one's life

Remember giving your son that special toy, only to see him have more fun playing with the box?

How about racking your brains to find that special article of clothing for your sister, only to have her, after a polite word of gratitude, ask if you, um, still had the receipt?

Ideally, we like to give gifts that will truly enrich our loved ones' lives, long after the wrapping paper is thrown away and the decorations taken down.

We heard of one great idea this week, especially for someone who lives in Southwest Nebraska, and who hasn't taken advantage of one of our great personal enrichment opportunities.

How about a gift certificate for college?

For an adult long out of college, to a traditional student just making the transition from high school, we can't think of anything with the potential for long-term impact.

"Gift certificates are a great way to help with the costs of continuing education," said Church Salestrom, Mid Plains Community College Area associate vice president of marketing, public information and development. "This truly is a gift that will keep on giving for a lifetime."

It's a simple process, according to Wendy Schramm, MPCC Area Staff Accountant. Just call her at (308) 535-3675 in North Platte or email schrammw@mpcc.edu, or Janelle Hartzer in McCook at (308) 345-8101 or hartzerj@mpcc.edu

Gift certificates can be in any amount and used for tuition, fees, housing and meal plans at the college. They can also be used for courses that are offered for the Mid-Plains Center for Enterprise.