Funding roundup

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) will provide 96 new scholarships to students attending CSM to study in the STEM fields thanks to a $953,243 grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) program.

CMS’s student success record was pivotal to it receiving the funds, as was the demand to fill local STEM-related jobs, where companies such as Exelon Generation, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, military installations, Dominion Power and other energy companies are working with CSM to grow a workforce of engineers and technicians.

Alabama

The 2+2 poultry science program at Wallace State Community College recently received a $5,000 grant from the Poultry and Egg Harold E Ford Foundation and a monetary contribution given in part by Tuscaloosa-based Peco Foods, Inc.

The college will use the funds to make Wallace State students aware of occupations within the poultry science industry and the 2+2 poultry science partnership with the college and Auburn University, which culminates with a bachelor’s degree in poultry science.

Florida

Valencia College’s Osceola Campus (Florida) has received $1.1 million through the U.S. Labor Department’s YouthBuild. The education and training program has a strong pre-apprenticeship component that helps at-risk youths complete high school and GEDs, earn industry-recognized credentials for in-demand jobs and more. This round of grants will allow participants to expand training experiences into healthcare, information technology, hospitality and retail services, and logistics.

Illinois

Rock Valley College has received a $30,000 grant to buy 600 robot-building kits and hold coding workshops for local K-8 students. The grant comes from the Barber-Colman Management Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.

The “Ozobot: Learn Coding with Robots” program empowers children and adults to learn to code anywhere they go, create adventures, play games and solve problems.

“Only one in seven K-12 schools in the Rockford region offers computer science courses, while businesses in Illinois post four times more computer related jobs than all other job types,” said Chuck Konkol, associate professor of computer information systems. “One goal of the Ozobot curriculum is to expose elementary and middle school students to computer science careers before entering high school and making important decisions about their futures.”

Mississippi

East Mississippi Community College’s Steps to Success (S2S) program got a boost with a $277,268 grant from the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District. The funding will help provide training and paid internships for local youths.

S2S serves young people ages 16-24 who are not enrolled in school. Participants are trained in areas such as work ethics, leadership and financial literacy. They also complete a career readiness certification and an eight-week paid internships. Students are tracked for a year after completing the program and are deemed a success if they are employed or continue on with their education.

Tennessee

Chattanooga State Community College’s foundation recently received $100,000 from tufting technology leader Card-Monroe Corporation (CMC). The gift helped to equip a state-of-the-art learning lab designed to provide hands-on training for students. 

“We think partnerships with places like Chattanooga State have made us successful by providing to us employees who have come in and been a part of the CMC success, and we are so thankful for the long-lasting relationship we have here at Chattanooga State and for your training of the future employees for manufacturing,” said CMC President Brad Card.

Texas

Collin College’s foundation recently received a $20,000 donation from the North Texas Chapter of the Information Security Systems Association (NTXISSA) for student scholarships.

NTXISSA has held cybersecurity conferences at the college for several years, and the partnership between the college and the information security organization continues to flourish. According to Chris Armstrong, president of the NTXISSA, the chapter understands the value of investing in community.

“Our chapter members are constantly seeking talented local staff at all levels and the consistent connection with Collin allows unique career opportunities for students and a route to qualified talent for our hiring needs,” he said.

Lone Star College (LSC) has received a $968,537 grant from the Texas Workforce Commission to focus on the skilled workforce shortage. The college will use the grant to help Daikin Industries — one of the top air-conditioning companies in the world — train 415 current employees and hire an additional 115 employees.

U.S. manufacturers like Daikin rely on mechatronic technicians who are trained to work with equipment integrating electronics, mechanics, pneumatics, hydraulics and computer controls. LSC students are taught the skills necessary to earn a mechatronics pre-apprentice fast-track certificate.

“It’s been a wonderful relationship over the last two years,” said Paul Long, Daikin Industries director learning and development. “We would not be where we are today without this collaboration.”

Virginia

New River Community College (NRCC) received a $119,918 grant from the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). The Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back (G3) grant will help the college expand programs and develop new pathways to prepare students for in-demand career fields.

The college will develop career pathways in the areas of nursing, advanced manufacturing/industrial maintenance, cyber security/information technology and child development, all in alignment with targeted industry demand. The grant also will support a joint initiative with Montgomery County Public Schools that will allow high school students to transition to NRCC’s associate-degree nursing program by completing the first year of the program in high school.