10 October ICC receives $30,000 Women's Foundation of Mississippi grant October 10, 2018 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Itawamba Community College has received a $30,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi for implementation of its Women Advancing Generational Employment and Success program. The grant, which will continue through Sept. 30, 2019, will provide supplementary resources to help disadvantaged women with children to advance their education and attain sustainable wage jobs through barrier mitigation, according to Lee Oswalt, director of the SNAP/E&T pilot grant, who will administer W.A.G.E.S. ICC will leverage resources through braiding funding streams, enabling the College to provide maximum assistance through the provision of customized and individualized training services. Many of the target population may not have completed high school. “The program will cover such barriers as tuition, drivers’ licenses, transportation and childcare,” Oswalt said. “We want to be part of the solution by providing another option to leverage resources for students.” Among the additional funds that will be used are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Incentive2Success, Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program and adult education private funds. ICC’s program will target Lee County low-income women, ages 18-49, who have one or more children under the age of five. Oswalt said that Lee County, which is ICC’s largest supporting county, has a population around 85,555, and 52 percent are female. “According to the 2015 Institute for Women’s Policy Research Report, 61 percent of Mississippi households are headed by single women breadwinners,” Oswalt noted. “Thirty one percent are working low-wage jobs, and 26 percent are working part-time. Only three percent of Mississippi women work in high-wage STEM employment. These demographics are reflective of our region. According to the CREATE Foundation State of the Region Report for Northeast Mississippi in 2015, 182 children were born to teen mothers in the ICC district. Statistically, they become low-wage, low-quality employed and cannot afford childcare.” “Many women in ICC’s district find themselves unable to become attached to the labor force,” Oswalt said. “We will meet women where they are and help them advance their skill sets through short-term training and enable their participation by assisting with childcare and minor barrier assistance.” The ICC Belden Center offers 13 pathway programs in areas such as manufacturing, construction, healthcare and food services. Before or concurrent to entering a pathway training program, grant participants will be enrolled in ICC’s adult education program. Upon completion, they will earn their high school equivalency credential if needed and state-sponsored SMART-Start credential. These two credentials coupled with a certification in food service, manufacturing basic skills and basic construction skills advance their wage and earnings potential through skilled employment, Oswalt said. “Budget line item flexibility will allow for customized assistance and maximize the number of participants we can serve.” “This grant will make a significant difference in the lives of area women by mitigating barriers to educational and employment opportunities, securing a future that would have otherwise been impossible,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. ICC’s W.A.G.E.S. grant will be among those introduced Oct. 15 during the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi’s Women of Vision annual event in Jackson. The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi is the only grantmaking and advocacy organization in the state entirely dedicated to funding programs that improve the lives of women and girls statewide. Its mission is economic security for women. Related Articles ICC's ADN, PN programs to benefit from $40,000 Women's Foundation of Mississippi Grant Students in Itawamba Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing programs again will have an opportunity to benefit from a significant grant from the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi. For the second consecutive year, the $40,000 Access to Opportunity – Training and Graduating a Healthcare Workforce for Mississippi grant will be divided between the ADN and PN programs based on relative program enrollments, said Tonya Vaughn, dean of Health Science Instruction. Last year, 31 ADN and 19 PN students received funds. During 2021-22, recipients of the grant money expressed their appreciation for their selection. Among the uses for the funds included purchase of a new computer that was compatible with technology used in the nursing program, payment for the NCLEX review and application, vehicle tires for less hazardous travel to and from school and clinicals and childcare to enable continued enrollment. Students in their final year/semester of their nursing program will be informed of this grant during the beginning of the fall semester, Vaughn said. Those who would like to be considered for the grant will complete an ... ICC's Nursing students have opportunity to benefit from Women's Foundation of Mississippi grant Students in Itawamba Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing programs will have an opportunity to benefit from a significant grant from the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi. The $40,000 Access to Opportunity – Training and Graduating a Healthcare Workforce for Mississippi grant will be divided between the ADN and PN programs based on relative program enrollments, said Rilla Jones, dean of Health Science Instruction. This year, 31 ADN and 19 PN students will receive funds. Students in their final year/semester of their nursing program will be informed of this grant during the beginning of the fall semester, Jones said. Those who would like to be considered for the grant will complete an application and sign a consent form for FAFSA data to be accessed. Selection will be based on lowest estimated financial contribution and income level and the most number of dependents. Students who are selected will be awarded $800. “This targeted, need-based funding will allow students near graduation to be able to pay for expenses, such as NCLEX review courses, licensing exams ... ICC, one of two in Mississippi, receives Metallica's All Within My Hands grant All Within My Hands, the nonprofit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, has announced the largest expansion of its Metallica Scholars Initiative and its largest grant to date. With the launch of year six, 18 new colleges join the roster of existing MSI community colleges. The Metallica Scholars Initiative now has a presence in 60 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam. Itawamba Community College, which is in year two, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College represent Mississippi. ICC’s $50,000 grant will focus on recruiting underserved populations to enable individuals to attain job skills and opportunities to equip them for employment to better position them for success and a better future. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the continuing recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs and the lives of those who will receive scholarships to pursue a pathway and their best start,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of ... ICC's Lancaster receives University of Mississippi grant for Open Educational Resources Dr. Ashley Craig Lancaster of Tupelo has received a grant from the William-Flora Hewlett Foundation from the University of Mississippi to fund the integration of Open Educational Resources into her American Literature I course at Itawamba Community College. The award will enable Lancaster to replace her copyrighted course material with that which is openly-licensed, which means that the teaching, learning and research resources can be accessed easily and for free. The openly-licensed material allows for full use, reuse, adaptation and resharing by learners and educators. The free materials that are openly-licensed that Lancaster finds valuable and useful will be acceptable, according to guidelines of the grant. According to Lancaster’s notification letter, the OER projects often save students money and increase engagement and learning. “The committee sees great promise in your proposal, and we look forward to supporting your development efforts.” “ICC is dedicated to helping its students succeed in class, so I’m trying to do my part by making classes more affordable while still maintaining high-quality instruction,” Lancaster said. Lancaster has published academic ... ICC's PMMT program receives Gene Haas Foundation grant Itawamba Community College’s Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology program has received a $14,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation. According to Dylan Baldwin, ICC’s director of Career Education, the funds will be used for student aid and certifications. “We appreciate very much the investment by the Haas Foundation in ICC’s Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology program,” Baldwin said. “Not only is it an investment in the program, but it is an investment in the futures of our students.” In 1999, Gene Haas formed the foundation which bears his name because he grew up with a strong social conscience instilled by his family. It was initially designed to fund the needs of the local community. Haas Automation is now a billion-dollar company. The focus of the foundation has shifted to the current outreach and methodology. Its purpose is to introduce students to careers in machine technology and manufacturing, to build skills in the machining industry and to help military veterans enroll in programs that train them to become skilled machinists. ICC’s Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology program is designed to ... ICC's PMMT program receives $20,000 Gene Haas Foundation grant Itawamba Community College’s Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology program has received a $20,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation. According to Dylan Baldwin, ICC’s director of Career Education, the funds are being used for financial aid for several students. “We appreciate very much the investment by the Haas Foundation in ICC’s Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology program,” Baldwin said. “Not only is it an investment in the program, but it is an investment in the futures of our students.” In 1999, Gene Haas formed the foundation, which bears his name because he grew up with a strong social conscience instilled by his family. It was initially designed to fund the needs of the local community. Haas Automation is now a billion-dollar company. The focus of the foundation has shifted to the current outreach and methodology. Its purpose is to introduce students to careers in machine technology and manufacturing, to build skills in the machining industry and to help military veterans enroll in programs that train them to become skilled machinists. ICC’s Precision Manufacturing ... Comments are closed.