College of Southern Maryland (CSM) has received $25,000 from the Chaney Enterprises Foundation Fund to use toward scholarships for students who want to enter the workforce as pre-apprentices or earn a certified Commercial Driver’s License.
To support this effort, a CSM Chaney Enterprises Workforce Pathway Program has been established. It will map out a student’s course of study upon completion of the apprenticeship to help guide him or her on a career path and employment possibilities.
“The average person in Charles County earned $38,000 in 2017,” Chaney Enterprises Director Bill Childs said during a check presentation. “And the average salary of an employee at Chaney is about $72,900 – that’s about 80 percent above the local average. We are able to offer that competitive salary because of the education CSM provides to our employees. A solid education is the backbone of our success.”
Georgia
The Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG) efforts to support students got a boost with a $100,000 donation from The Coca-Cola Foundation. The funds will go toward The Last Mile Fund, which provides needs-based assistance to students at all 22 TCSG colleges.
Since its inception, the TCSG Foundation has awarded more than $80,000 in student aid as a result of the Last Mile Fund.
Illinois
Rend Lake College’s machining program received a $5,000 gift from the Gene Haas Foundation. The funds will help students in the program cover the costs of tuition, fees and equipment.
“The machining industry is an in-demand occupation with many local opportunities in Rend Lake College district,” said Gabriele Farner, the college’s dean of applied science and technology. “Students can make a good wage and stay local.”
Rend Lake College staff accepts a $5,000 donation from Gene Haas Foundation employees. (Photo: RLC)
Kentucky
Big Sandy Community & Technical College plans to help more low-income students achieve academic and career success with the help of a five-year, $2.25 million U.S. Department of Education grant.
The funding will allow the college to establish an academic success center and develop an intrusive advising program. In addition, the college will develop new registered apprenticeship pathways.
Louisiana
Delgado Community College will use a $420,000 grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to prepare students for jobs with the agency, especially in advanced manufacturing in space applications.
The funding enables eligible Delgado students to receive up to $5,000 in direct scholarships to take three newly created classes over three semesters beginning in spring 2020. The classes will be offered within the computer-aided design and drafting department. Students also will complete a week-long field trip to the University of Louisiana (UL) at Lafayette to participate in the Additive Manufacturing Project for the In-Space Manufacturing of Lightweight Metal Alloys. High-performing students will complete internships at NASA facilities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
In addition to working with UL Lafayette, Delgado’s other collaborators are Northwestern State University of Louisiana and The 1881 Institute.
Mississippi
Hinds Community College will receive $1.3 million to create a national model for manufacturing and logistics training. The project will focus on three major workforce-training academies: Advanced Manufacturing, Inland Waterway Maritime and Logger Equipment Operations. All three are designed to help unemployed, underemployed and low-skilled adults gain industry-recognized credentials that lead to middle-skilled manufacturing, logistics and transportation positions.
The grant comes as part of the Delta Regional Authority and the U.S. Department of Labor investment to expand workforce development efforts through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) grant initiative. The grant funds focus on rural areas hard hit by economic transition that are recovering more slowly.
Jones College’s (JC) Work Ready Initiative is expanding to serve more local high school students with the help of a $25,000 grant from aircraft manufacturer PG Technologies. The initiative was launched to support JC career and technical students. Students who complete the class will earn dual credit and a Smart Start credential.
North Carolina
Davidson County Community College (DCCC) has a lot of plans for its recent $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The focus of the grant is to improve supports and outcomes for low-income students.
The college will use the funds for faculty development – including a new Center for Teaching and Learning – administrative management, technology and classroom enhancements, student service programs and course design, among other needs.
“With a grant of this size, we have the flexibility of addressing several critical areas pertaining to student success,” said DCCC President Darrin Hartness. “We are looking forward to using these funds to invest in the professional development of our faculty, provide support for the success of our students and build upon the level of excellence we strive for at DCCC.”
James Sprunt Community College’s Hall Building is getting a much-needed renovation thanks to a $150,000 grant from The Cannon Foundation. The Hall Building houses the vocational and technical departments, including cosmetology, criminal justice, basic law enforcement training, information systems and more.
Repairs include a complete replacement of the electrical system, a partial roof replacement and HVAC replacements and upgrades.
Ohio
Washington State Community College (WSCC) will use a $618,150 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to develop a robotics, advanced manufacturing, technology and engineering center. It will serve five communities in two states, and at least 11 regional school districts.
The initiative aims to advance regional workforce and economic development. It will implement four programs: middle school career exploration, high school career and technical education, advanced manufacturing postsecondary education and displaced/incumbent worker training.
Ohio’s Lorain County Community College (LCCC) and Tennessee’s Northeast State Community College (NSCC) are both recipients of the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) Innovation & Modernization Grant. The three-year grant will test new ideas to help prepare students for success in the workforce by identifying, supporting and evaluating evidence-based strategies to improve career and technical education (CTE). The grants also help to ensure workforce skills taught in CTE programs funded under Perkins V align with local labor market needs.
LCCC will receive $497,505; NSCC will receive $473,935. The Education Department will award more than $4.3 million over three years to nine grant recipients.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) can feed more hungry students thanks to a recent $20,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. In addition, the funding allows OCCC to provide professional development support for faculty members in the college’s health professions division.
Oregon
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) has received a major gift of $1 million, a bequest from lifelong Bend resident John Overbay that will be used to establish an endowed fund to provide student scholarships.
Overbay was one of COCC’s earliest students when he enrolled in 1952, the college’s fourth year. He attended night classes while also working at a local sawmill. Eventually, he went on to run his in-laws’ grocery chain, Wagners, beginning in 1980, ultimately purchasing the stores and managing the shopping center properties that he helped to develop.
A COCC Foundation donor and advocate for many years, Overbay served on the foundation board of trustees for 20 years. He also spent 13 years on COCC’s board of directors, and co-chaired a capital campaign for the college that exceeded $6 million. A conference room in the school’s Health Careers Center bears his name.
Three generations of Overbays have studied at COCC.
“This is a transformative gift and we are beyond grateful,” said COCC Foundation Executive Director Zak Boone. “This legacy will literally translate into hundreds of fully funded scholarships going forward, to open doors and improve the lives of countless Central Oregonians.”
Wisconsin
Gateway Technical College has received a $195,000 donation from SC Johnson to help build and equip a high-end, mechatronics science lab. The newly named SC Johnson Waxdale Mechatronics Lab will provide students with access to cutting-edge equipment and developmental training in this ever-growing field.
“Workforce demands for skills in the area of mechatronics are at an all-time high. The new science lab will allow Gateway to provide students with advanced manufacturing knowledge and skills to meet these growing occupational needs in the region,” said Gateway President Bryan Albrecht.
Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) received a $2.1 million U.S. Department of Education grant to help in serving low-income students. LTC will use the funding to develop competency-based learning formats, deploy additional student support services and implement a holistic student support system.
“This grant will be used to provide new and innovative programming and services to our students, elevating our already student-centered instruction and support services to an even higher level,” said LTC President Paul Carlsen.
