In Oregon, Umpqua Community College’s (UCC) truck driving program is the proud recipient of a state-of-the-art big rig. The UCC Foundation raised $46,000 for a truck through its annual Legacy Ball in November. While shopping for a vehicle, local community partner Andy Owens from A&M Trucking reached out to Daimler Trucks North America. The company not only agreed to assist with the initial truck’s funding, it donated an additional truck valued at $80,000 from its corporate test fleet.
“The addition of an auto-shift to our fleet helps us train future drivers using state-of-the-art equipment,” said Robin VanWinkle, UCC’s director of community and workforce training.
Truck driving is one of Oregon’s most difficult-to-fill occupations. UCC’s truck driving program currently trains 30-50 students a year. Once students complete the four-week program, their job placement rate has ranged between 87 percent and 95 percent over the past three years.
New Jersey
Bergen Community College’s (BCC) Center for Peace, Justice and Reconciliation and Center for Veteran and Military Affairs will use a $100,000 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant to launch programs that will support the entire community. Beginning in April, the college will host a discussion series on military literature, “No Man’s Land: Dialogues on the Experience of War.” Award-winning writer and U.S. military veteran Phil Klay also will speak at the college.
The programs are meant to reflect BCC’s support for U.S. military veterans by encouraging the community to study the issues raised by war and military service.
North Carolina
Cape Fear Community College culinary arts students will benefit from a $1,855 donation from the Pleasure Island Revitalization Association. The gift came from the proceeds of the 6th Annual Michael McGowan Co-Ed Softball Tournament in Carolina Beach.
Since 2013, the Pleasure Island Revitalization Association has supported CFCC culinary arts students through the Michael McGowan Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship was established in memory of Chef Michael McGowan, founder of Michael’s Seafood.
A donation to Cape Fear Community College will provide scholarships to culinary arts students. (Photo: CFCC)
Oklahoma
Seminole State College’s language arts and humanities division received a $500 donation to aid in the continuation of its annual Howlers and Yawpers Creativity Symposium. The donors, Bill and Dorothy Boudreau, were so moved by the campus event last November that they wanted to help. The symposium is a mix of musical performances, creative writings, dramatic readings, artistic presentations and dances by professional and emerging Oklahoma artists and scholars.
South Carolina
Florence-Darlington Technical College received a $3,500 donation from the Advanced Dental Center of Florence for scholarships benefiting dental hygiene and dental assisting students.
Greenville Technical College is adding to its health programs thanks to a $70,000 gift from John I. Smith Charities. The funds allowed the college to purchase two new simulation manikins along with critical care beds to support the simulators. The simulators provide an opportunity for students in health programs to deal with critical patients and uncommon symptoms in a safe environment.
Tennessee
Northeast State Community College’s aviation technology program received a $51,562 grant from the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission. The college will use the grant to secure equipment and align curriculum to Federal Aviation Administration standards and industry needs. The goal is to ensure that program graduates have the skill sets to succeed in the aviation maintenance workforce.
