Borhani Family Establishes STEAM Scholarship at Labette Community College

[Parsons, KS] – Labette Community College (LCC) is honored to announce the newly established Borhani Family STEAM Scholarship, made possible by Marcus Borhani and his wife, Dawn Kelley. This scholarship is the first to take advantage of the Hughes Matching Pool opportunity, further amplifying its impact on students pursuing education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).

The Hughes Matching Pool is a funding initiative designed to encourage philanthropic contributions to student scholarships and to honor the Hughes family’s deep-rooted legacy of service and commitment to education in Southeast Kansas. Contributions of $5,000 or more will be eligible for 50% matching, with a maximum of $2,500 per scholarship.
By establishing the Borhani Family STEAM Scholarship, Marcus and Dawn aim to give back to the college that played a pivotal role in Marcus’ life and to support future generations of students pursuing STEAM careers. 

Marcus says, “LCC and Parsons, Kansas, played a pivotal role in launching my career and motivating me to pursue my education at Kansas State University.  My brothers and I cherish fond memories of Parsons, Kansas, as the community was incredibly welcoming to us. During holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, as international students, we often lacked a place to go. However, families such as the Cervantes, Halpains, Larsons, and Sears generously invited us to their homes to celebrate with them, embracing and welcoming three brothers into their family.”

Marcus Borhani, a 1971 graduate of LCC, has deep ties to the institution, as his two older brothers, Rahim and Ben, also attended LCC. All three brothers came to the United States from Iran to fulfill their dreams of graduating from college in America. Each of them started their higher education journey at Labette Community College.

Reflecting on his time at LCC, Marcus credits the college for providing him with critical support in learning English and adapting to academic life in the U.S. He recalls diligently transcribing textbooks with the help of a Persian-English dictionary and receiving guidance from impactful educators such as Ms. Harrison (English), Mr. Epps (Calculus), and Mr. Knox (Physics). While attending LCC, he also worked part-time as a custodian.
Born Mostafa Borhani, Marcus changed his name upon becoming a U.S. citizen in the early 1980s. After a successful 40-year career in the semiconductor industry, he is now retired and living in Lubbock, Texas with his wife, Dawn. Retired after teaching accounting for 30 years at Texas Tech University, Dawn shares a passion for education with Marcus. These days they enjoy giving back to their community with a special enthusiasm for supporting education.

A portrait of the Borhani family, featuring Marcus, Rahim, and Ben, is displayed on LCC’s Wall of Scholarship inside the Cardinal Event Center to honor their legacy.

“We are deeply grateful to Marcus and Dawn for their generosity and commitment to education,” said Lindi Forbes, LCC Foundation Executive Director. “This scholarship honors the Borhani brothers’ inspiring journey and the foundation LCC provided for their success. We are proud to see their legacy continue in support of future students.”

For more information about the Borhani Family STEAM Scholarship and other scholarship opportunities at LCC, please contact the LCC Foundation Office or visit https://labette.edu/foundation.