TWO MCC SUPPORTERS DONATE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BUILDING + $2OO,OOO FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES
In June, local developer Jonathan Rooks donated the former Masonic Temple in downtown Muskegon to the College as the new home for its Entrepreneurial Studies program. Rooks then took his contribution to MCC a step further by encouraging his friend, Nick Sarnicola, a West Michigan native and successful entrepreneur, to join him in significantly supporting the College’s Entrepreneurial Studies Program.
Nick and his wife, Ashley, generously responded through their NextGEn Foundation with a $200,000 permanent endowment to the Foundation for Muskegon Community College. The fund will support an annual $10,000 cash award – the Rooks | Sarnicola Entrepreneurial Award – for the best business idea generated by an MCC entrepreneurial program graduate.
The Masonic Temple will now be known as the Rooks | Sarnicola Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. Following renovations, the building is set to re-open in fall 2017.
STATE GRANTS $4.1 MILLION FOR SKILLED TRADES EQUIPMENT PROGRAM
The timing could not be better for Muskegon Community College to receive $4.1 million as part of the statewide $50 million Community College Skilled Trades Equipment Program. It coincides with the opening of the College’s downtown campus and its focus on applied technology and entrepreneurial programming. Announced by Gov. Rick Snyder in October, the grant program provides funding for Michigan community colleges to purchase equipment required for educational programs in high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand occupations.
“We are ecstatic about how this award is going to impact our programs,” stated MCC President Dale Nesbary. Citing Newaygo
County as a target in addition to Muskegon, Nesbary said, “These funds will allow us to improve programs that directly lead to jobs in these communities.”
CHILDHOOD DEGREE ACCREDITATION GRANT
Muskegon Community College has received a $20,700 grant to pursue accreditation for its early childhood education associate degree through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
MCC joins nine other Michigan colleges who received similar grants from the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (MiAEYC) and the Michigan Office of Great Start (OGS) to pursue either NAEYC accreditation or reaccreditation in the next two years.
MCC TO SHARE IN NSF FUNDING FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
The National Science Foundation has awarded to $1.5 million to a network of community colleges that includes Muskegon Community College for the expansion of research opportunities to students.
The grant was awarded to the Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI), a project launched by Finger Lakes Community College in upstate New York. FLCC received a $3.35 million grant in 2011 to share its model for teaching science through research with other community colleges across the country.
“MCC has been a part of CCURI for the last four years. It is exciting that we will continue as a national partner and will be able to take part in the national dialogue and data collection related to student research at community colleges.” said Darren Mattone, instructor of biology at MCC and one of the co-principal investigators for the CCURI grant.
At MCC, the monies will be used for faculty development, supplies for conducting student experiments, and student travel to present their findings at research colloquiums.
MCC DOWNTOWN CENTER RECEIVES DONATION
The Consumers Energy Foundation has awarded $25,000 to the “Creating New Horizons” capital campaign for Muskegon Community College’s Downtown Center. The gift was presented to the Foundation for Muskegon Community College (FMCC) on Dec. 11.
“By providing its financial support, the Consumers Energy Foundation is participating in the economic resurgence of downtown Muskegon, assisting with the development of local talent to fill the pipeline of skilled workers, and bringing awareness to careers in manufacturing and entrepreneurial studies,” said MCC President Dale K. Nesbary.
The Consumers Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Consumers Energy. It provides funding for a variety of areas including education, community, civic and cultural development, social services, the environment, and emerging issues.
The main entrance into the Applied Technology Department off Clay Avenue will be renamed the Consumers Energy Atrium, while the company’s gift will assist with the acquisition of both state-of-the-art equipment and new furnishings within the Center.
