Massachusetts’ Holyoke Community College (HCC) is the beneficiary of a $1 million legacy gift. Former HCC instructor Elaine Marieb included the gift as part of her estate plan, money earmarked for HCC programs that support nontraditional age students.
“This is incredible. We are so thrilled and grateful,” said Amanda Sbriscia, HCC vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of the HCC Foundation. “This gift will significantly enhance our efforts to support adult students and adult women at HCC.”
This was Marieb’s second $1 million donation to HCC. The first came in 2014 to support construction of the college’s Center for Health Education and Center for Life Sciences. Over the years, her other donations helped establish scholarships, science labs, an endowed faculty chair and the Elaine Marieb New Pathways Center, a computer room and study area for students in New Directions and Pathways, two programs that were meaningful to Marieb.
Marieb was a nontraditional college student. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State in 1964 when she was 28 years old. She went on to earn a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in zoology. She was hired as a professor of biology at HCC in 1969.
She started writing textbooks on anatomy and physiology to address complaints from her nursing students that the materials then available were ineffective. She enrolled in HCC’s nursing program to inform her writing, graduating with her associate degree in 1980. She retired in 1983 to devote herself to writing, becoming the author or co-author of more than 10 best-selling textbooks and laboratory manuals in anatomy and physiology.
For her contributions, both financially and in the classroom, she received the American Association of Community Colleges’ Outstanding Alumni Award in 2015.
Alaska
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Community and Technical College’s aviation facility has a new resident: a 1978 King Air 200 plane donated by Bering Air, which the college will use for maintenance training.
Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas Community College’s Washington County Center project got a boost with a $1 million donation from Washington Regional Medical System. The 38,000-square-foot center will house training for nursing, emergency medical responding and health information management programs. The center is expected to open to students in January.
South Carolina
Greenville Technical College (GTC) received a $10,000 grant from 3M and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to support the college’s auto body repair program. The college will use the funds to pay for tools and equipment to enhance training opportunities.
GTC is considered a CREF Benchmark Tier 1 school, meaning that the college has advanced capabilities in preparing students for employment in the collision industry as shown by number of hours of instruction, curriculum, tools, equipment and supplies.
Washington
South Seattle College (SSC) students in the diesel and heavy equipment technology program will benefit from Waste Management’s donation of two used trucks. Students will have an opportunity to learn the ins-and-outs of high-tech vehicles in preparation for careers servicing large engines that power buses, trucks, construction equipment and ships.
“They are perfect all-in-one vehicles that can be used in each and every class we offer to students, as well as supporting our new alternative fuel class,” said instructor Jeremie Pitts.
Wisconsin
Gateway Technical College can support more students thanks to a $10,000 donation from the Mary Lou and Arthur F. Mahone Fund. Arthur Mahone was a well-known and well-liked 18-year welding instructor at the college, and the Mahone family have been supporters of GTC.
In May, the college recognized the family by announcing that the atrium in the Science Building on its Kenosha Campus will be named the Arthur F. Mahone Student Atrium.
