In Massachusetts, Mount Wachusett Community College’s Adult Education (AE) Transition to Community College program was once again supported with a $99,830 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education grant. The grant will allow MWCC to continue providing free access to college courses and wrap-around support services for people transitioning from completing their high school equivalency to pursuing a college-level degree.
“The program allows students to build the social, academic and student success skills necessary for college completion and successful employment while gradually building skills applicable to all areas of their personal, academic and professional lives,” said Adam Duggan, MWCC’s assistant dean of adult education and training.
Also in Massachusetts, MassBay Community College received a $43,000 contribution from Sanofi Genzyme toward the college’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Mentor Program for the 2018-2019 academic year. This is the fourth consecutive year Sanofi Genzyme has funded the program. This upcoming academic year, the STEM Mentor Program also will receive a $3,000 MathWorks Community grant and a Massachusetts Department of Higher Education STEM Starter Academy grant.
Since its inception in 2014, MassBay’s STEM Mentor Program has worked closely with Sanofi Genzyme employees to create a program that offers students one-on-one mentoring by industry professionals. The program provides STEM students with supportive mentoring relationships and career-focused events and opportunities. More than 30 percent of program participants are low-income, people of color, first in their family to attend college and/or women.
“This program has been an invaluable addition to the curricular offerings in our STEM Division,” Valerie Kapilow, director of the program, said in a release. “Mentors help our students make the connection between what they are learning in the classroom with the knowledge and skills required in the STEM fields. Mentors help students prepare for job interviews, identify research opportunities, transfer to four-year institutions and connect with other STEM professionals.”
Arizona
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) announced a $20,000 grant from the Kroger Co. Foundation to support food pantry initiatives district-wide. The grant will support existing college food pantries and help to create new ones. Eight of the 10 MCCCD colleges provide a food pantry for students. The other two colleges are in the process of planning and developing their pantries. The district will purchase additional food, toiletries, shelves, storage bins and other resources needed to operate campus food pantries.
Florida
Seminole State College of Florida will use an $80,000 Duke Energy Foundation grant to raise awareness and interest in STEM-based careers as they relate to environmental sustainability. The funding will establish the Duke Energy Foundation Environmental Sustainability Lab, as well as an additional self-contained mobile lab and lab/classroom space for the newly announced “TEACH” (The Education And Cultivation Homegrown) collaborative effort by Seminole County Public Schools, Seminole State College and University of Central Florida to foster the next generation of STEM K-12 teachers.
North Carolina
Durham Technical Community College can better serve English as a Second Language (ESL) students after receiving a $4,000 grant from Strowd Roses, Inc. With the funding, the college can purchase school supplies and books for students who can’t afford them and instructional materials such as posters and visual aids.
Strowd Roses previously provided grant funding to the Durham Tech ESL program in 2015.
“Students and instructors still use supplies purchased from our first grant from Strowd Roses, so we know this year’s funding will have an impact for years to come,” said ESL Program Director Karin Abell.
Washington
Bates Technical College received a Dart Foundation grant. (Photo: Bates)
Bates Technical College students in the CNC machinist program will have new equipment thanks to a $45,000 grant from the Dart Foundation. The funds mean the college can buy a specialized measuring machine that will allow Bates to soon offer a career path in CNC coordinate measuring machine operation and programming.
“Technical education depends on keeping our learning spaces and tools current with industry standards as we prepare students for the workforce. This grant is an investment that will help ensure our students are well-trained for their future careers,” said Executive Director of Resource Development Erin Zeiger.
