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Tag: Scholarships

Abigail Kleekamp Earns First WINGS ECC Scholarship

July 24, 2024 | Campus News

East Central College graduate Abigail Kleekamp is the recipient of the inaugural WINGS (Washington’s Investment in Great Schools) Educational Foundation ECC Scholarship.

Kleekamp, from Washington, graduated Summa Cum Laude from ECC in May with an Associate of Arts degree and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. This fall, she will attend St. Louis University to study Criminology and Pre-Law. Plans call for the $1,000 Scholarship to be offered annually.

Kleekamp was an Early College Academy student, attending classes at both ECC and Washington High School for the past two years. She holds cherished memories of her time with the WHS Band.

“I have so many great and amazing memories from my time in band, from winning competitions to making lasting longtime friends from this experience,” she said. “Being able to perform at football games was always fun as it got the student section and cheerleaders involved as well, which gave a positive atmosphere for the football season.”

During the ECC Class of 2024 Commencement, Dr. Jon Bauer, college president, highlighted Kleekamp’s achievements as an ECA student—graduating from both high school and college and actively participating in both communities.

“When Dr. Bauer mentioned me in his speech, I was very shocked because I had no idea that it was coming,” she commented. “I got very emotional because I thought it wasn’t a big deal, the accomplishments that I had just completed, but now I know that my accomplishments were a big deal if Dr. Bauer himself thought that they were.”

Memorable Faculty

Kleekamp noted that she enjoyed every class taught by Matthew Gifford, philosophy and religion instructor at ECC.

“I had taken all three of the classes that he teaches in Union during this past fall and spring semesters, and I did not regret it,” she added. “He made teaching fun and enjoyable, and I looked forward to his classes each week because of all the funny things that he says.”

Kleekamp said she learned a lot from Gifford about the subject matter of each class and life lessons she’ll carry with her.

“Getting the students involved in the lesson allows them to remember the topic of discussion better, and that is what Matthew Gifford did for me, and he will continue to do it for his other students.”

WMS Instructor

Kleekamp also made lasting memories in her 7th-grade history class, taught by Ben Hornback.

“He made class fun for his students — we went outside to make a spray-painted map of the world that included all of the major history moments that we had talked about,” she remembered. “Mr. Hornback was a very approachable teacher, and he would always help me with anything that I was struggling with.”

The WINGS Educational Foundation ECC Scholarship will be awarded to a student who attended school in the Washington School District and graduated from ECC. Applications, submitted anonymously, are reviewed by the College president, who makes the final selection.

To learn more about the ECC Foundation and scholarship opportunities, visit www.eastcentral.edu/foundation/new-scholarships-endowments/.

College Receives State Grant to Encourage Math, Science Teaching Careers

November 1, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College has been awarded a state “Grow Your Own” grant to encourage students in its education program to pursue careers in teaching math and science at the middle school level.

The College is receiving $45,000 through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in the form of a Developing an Educator Workforce that Expands Yearly (DEWEY) award to address the critical need of STEM teachers in the region.

ECC was one of five two-year colleges in Missouri awarded a DEWEY grant with the intent to inspire more students to pursue careers in education.

Dr. Robyn Walter, ECC Vice President of Academic Affairs, said math and science were strategically chosen due to their historically low enrollment certification rates in the service area, as well as the pressing need for teachers in these fields within local school districts.

“We anticipate that by offering incentives for students to pursue certification areas with historically low enrollment statewide, those students would be more likely to consider those certification areas over others,” Walter said.

Scholarships

Under this innovative initiative, ECC is set to offer $1,000 scholarships to complete their first year of an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) focused on Middle School math or science. Upon completing their second year at ECC and providing proof of enrollment at a transfer institution for certification in Middle School math and science, students will receive an additional $2,000 to continue to pursue their bachelor’s degree.

“We selected these areas due to their historical low enrollment in our service region, and the school districts we serve are in critical need of educators in these fields,” said Greg Stotler, Assistant Professor, Education/Teacher Coordinator at ECC. “Students who choose science or math programs oftentimes are drawn into professions with higher salaries.”

The College expects to award the $1,000 scholarships in the Spring of 2024.

“This money goes straight to students in a joint effort of growing our own educators,” Walter added.

Transfer Schools

The DEWEY grant aligns ECC with their four-year transfer partners, including Missouri S&T and Central Methodist University (CMU), who can further support students through the Missouri Teacher Recruitment Scholarship opportunity during their student teaching experience. CMU and Missouri S&T are among the 15 four-year colleges in the state to receive $70,000 each in DEWEY grants.

ECC is also hopeful that DESE will expand scholarship opportunities to encompass additional certification areas in the future.

The primary objective of the “Grow Your Own” initiative is to contribute to the growth of qualified educators within the state and tackle the challenge of teacher shortages. DESE reports that just over 5 percent of its teaching workforce is either not qualified or underqualified for their positions, equivalent to 3,579 full-time employees, as of December 2022. The most in-demand subjects are elementary education, cross-categorical positions, and early childhood special education.

DESE’s data from 2023-2024 shows a significant decrease in courses taught by instructors with “inappropriate certification,” down from 45,509 in the previous year to 13,314 courses, signifying the positive impact of these types of initiatives.

This initiative, fueled by the DEWEY grant, is a testament to ECC’s commitment to creating opportunities for aspiring educators and addressing critical teacher shortages across the state.

For more information about ECC’s Education programs, visit www.eastcentral.edu/education/education/.

Metallica Scholars logo

ECC Returns for Year Two of All Within My Hands’ Metallica Scholars Initiative

August 7, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College will continue in the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) and is receiving $50,000 in year two of its involvement in the program. The funding will be used for student scholarships in Welding, Heating and Air-Conditioning, Precision Machining and Manufacturing Maintenance.

Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. East Central College remains as the only community college in Missouri to be a part of the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI).

The MSI was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula.

“We are happy to continue to partner with Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation to support the vital career and technical education work of the nation’s community colleges,” said Walter G. Bumphus, AACC’s president and CEO.  “Colleges across the country provide pathways to well-paying jobs through programs, services and training that lead to in-demand skills, certificates and degrees for students.

“These programs are responsive to the needs of local businesses and provide a pipeline of qualified workers to local industry. Partners like Metallica that continue to provide support for community colleges help us to showcase the importance of investing in the transformative power of community college education.”

MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this grant year, it will have helped over 6,000 students pursuing careers in the trades. To date, Metallica and AWMH have invested over $6 million in the American workforce.

“The Metallica Scholars Initiative is a strong and cooperative assemblage of the nation’s best community colleges, creating a supportive climate for participants to communicate directly and share best practices. As a result, our Metallica Scholars leave the program well-trained and confident. Ultimately, the impact is felt locally and nationally as Metallica Scholars enter the workforce and fill in-demand technical positions.” says Peter Delgrosso, AWMH Executive Director.

During the past academic year of 2022-2023, ECC awarded $97,000 in MSI scholarships to 48 advanced manufacturing students. The scholarships were used toward tuition, fees, books, transportation and needed tools in their programs.

“We had students who couldn’t continue their program if it wasn’t for the scholarships from the Metallica Scholars Initiative,” says Joel Doepker, Vice President of External Relations. “The investment by AWMH has a direct impact on the area’s manufacturers who desperately need a qualified workforce to maintain their workforce and remain competitive.”

Find our more at our Metallica Scholars Initiative page.

The 11 community colleges joining MSI this year include:

These newly added colleges are joining a roster of veteran schools invited to continue in the program. Each year, the returning colleges play an integral part in helping guide the success of the new schools.

The 31 returning schools include:

What began with 10 colleges and mostly manufacturing programs has developed into a diverse offering of workforce opportunities for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying careers in fields and positions including:

Agriculture
Automation and Robotics
Automotive Technology
Aviation, Computer-Aided Drafting & Design
Carpentry
Computerized Manufacturing (CNC)
Construction Technology
Criminal Justice
Culinary Arts
Cybersecurity
Diesel Technology
Dental Hygiene
Electrical Engineering
EMT
Fire Technology
Healthcare
Heating & Ventilation (HVAC)
Heavy Equipment Operator
Hospitality
Industrial Maintenance Technology
Lineworker
Manufacturing & Machining
Mechanical Design
Mechatronics Engineering
Process Technology
Trucking (CDL)
Welding
Wind Energy

About American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)

As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges leads, advocates, and advances the nation’s community colleges.  Uniquely American, community colleges deliver educational and economic opportunities for more than 10 million diverse students annually. Dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, DC, AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support to increase economic mobility for all.

About All Within My Hands (AWMH)

All Within My Hands was established in 2017 by Metallica to invest in the people and places that have supported the band. It also allows Metallica’s fans to engage in philanthropy and volunteerism. The Foundation is dedicated to creating sustainable communities through workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. All expenses of the Foundation are covered by the band, the board, and a few special friends so that 100% of donations go to the organizations it supports. AWMH is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

 

 

ECC Grads Receive rootEd Alliance Transfer Scholarships

October 11, 2022 | Alumni Spotlight Campus News ECC Rolla

Two East Central College Class of 2022 graduates are recipients of a rootEd Alliance Transfer Scholarship that is helping them fund their four-year degrees.

The rootEd Alliance partners with the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis to award new scholarships to undergraduate and transfer students from rural Missouri, filling critical gaps in students’ financial aid packages to help ensure they graduate debt-free. The rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship is a renewable grant of up to $12,000 per academic year.

David Wysong, Sullivan, received the maximum grant available for this academic year.

Wysong graduated from ECC with an Associate of Arts degree with a Business emphasis. He received $12,000 — $6,000 each semester — to help pay for classes at the University of Missouri. Columbia.

He is a business major with plans to seek a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).

“I was surprised to be selected,” Wysong said. “This is a great opportunity and one less thing to stress about for me and my family.

“I will get a bachelor’s degree for almost no cost,” he added.

Michael Adkison, of the Labadie area, received $10,000, split evenly between the Fall and Spring semesters, to help him pay for tuition at Missouri State University in Springfield where he is studying sports medicine.

Adkison graduated from ECC with an Associate of Arts degree with a STEM emphasis. He aspires to be a physical therapist.

“I am very grateful for this award and that it will make it easier for me to strive to be the best physical therapist in the future,” he said. “I am forever thankful for the rootEd Alliance.”

Over the past four years, rootEd Alliance has provided dedicated support to students from rural areas and small towns across Missouri as they pursue their education beyond high school.

The organization does so, in part, through providing funding and resources for student success advisors in high schools and community colleges, and through creating opportunities, like the rootEd Alliance Transfer Scholarships.

Students transferring from any community college in Missouri, who also graduated from a rural high school in Missouri over the past five years, are eligible for the rootEd Scholarship.

Class or 2023 graduates can begin applying for the scholarship in the spring.

For more information, visit https://sfstl.org/rooted-community-college-transfer-scholarship/, or call ECC at 636-584-6588.

Bridgette Kelch Named East Central College Foundation Executive Director

August 27, 2019 | Campus News

At its August 26 meeting, the East Central College Board of Trustees approved Bridgette Kelch as the new Executive Director of the East Central College Foundation. Previously, Kelch served as Executive Director of Downtown Washington, Inc. and the Historic Washington Foundation.

“Community outreach is something I truly enjoy,” she said. “I’m looking forward to expanding outside of my comfort zone in Washington to the entire East Central College service region.”

During her time as Executive Director of Downtown Washington Inc., Kelch improved the quality of small business occupancy, deceasing vacancy rates from 25 to 4 percent since 1989. Since 2008, she helped increase Downtown Washington Inc. revenue by more than 35 percent and increased the Historic Washington Foundations revenues by 85 percent. As a grant administrator, Kelch managed more than $1.75 million in Community Development Blocks for the communities of Washington, Union, St. Clair and New Haven. She has been an active member in the Washington Jaycees, Washington Lions Club and Missouri Main Street Connection Board, which she helped found.

“Bridgette is bringing more than 20 years of non-profit experience to the East Central College Foundation,” said Dr. Jon Bauer, president. “She has a proven track record, and we are looking forward to her leadership on campus.”

The Executive Director is responsible for leading and strengthening a comprehensive fundraising program in support of East Central College Foundation’s mission and goals. Specific emphasis is focused on annual giving, major giving, planned giving, grants and fundraising events.

“I was a scholarship recipient at East Central College years ago,” Kelch explained. “I know the impact a scholarship can have on a student. Growing the scholarship program through more community partnerships and grant funding will be one of my priorities.”

Kelch also hopes to create a stronger alumni network.

“I believe there are so many alumni in our area who can positively impact East Central College through the Foundation,” she said. “There is so much untapped potential out there.”

The Executive Director is an ex-officio member of the East Central College Foundation Board of Directors and is also a member of the President’s Cabinet of East Central College.

The East Central College Foundation was established to support the growth and development of East Central College in whatever ways might be beneficial to its students, our staff and our facility. It solicits and receives tax deductible gifts which are managed for the benefit of the college and its students. It is chartered as a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization for educational purposes.

ECC Foundation Scholarships Continue to Change Lives at East Central College

December 5, 2018 | Campus News

When Madison Caldwell received the Jeff Maune scholarship at East Central College, she was thrilled.

“I was honored to be chosen,” said the Pacific native. “The scholarship helped me financially but also mentally. It made me feel like there is someone out there cheering me on – someone who wants to see me succeed.”

Open to all students from Franklin County, the scholarship is helping Madison achieve her dream – becoming a teacher.

“I am going into education because I love children,” she said. “I want to be someone a child feels comfortable going to in a time of need.”

While most college students don’t often get to meet their scholarship benefactors, East Central College makes it a priority.

“We believe it is important to bring our scholarship supporters together with the students they are directly impacting,” said East Central College President Dr. Jon Bauer. “Through the annual East Central College Foundation Scholarship Breakfast, we make it possible.”

For Madison, it was a chance to thank her benefactor in person.

“I loved getting to meet Jeff and his wife Beth,” she said. “They made me feel like I had known them my entire life. It was such an honor to be able to express my gratitude to them in person, rather than through a letter or thank you card.”

“We were both so impressed with Madison,” said Jeff. “She is a well-rounded, down-to-earth person. She has a plan in place for her future, and I just hope the scholarship helped her in at least a small way.”

The scholarship is in dedication to Jeff’s late wife, Patsy, who passed away in 2012.

“There is a need for caring, dedicated teachers,” Jeff explained. “Patsy couldn’t have become a teacher without financial help. When the East Central College Foundation Board approached me about setting up a scholarship, I wanted to help.”

Madison was one of 201 students who received more than $100,000 in scholarships through the ECC Foundation this fall.

“Our community is very supportive of the ECC Foundation,” said Dr. Bauer. “Every dollar donated helps enhance the lives of our students forever and strengthens our community. It is an economic and a human investment.”

The East Central College Foundation solicits and receives tax-deductible gifts which are managed for the benefit of the college and its students. It is chartered as a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization for educational purposes. It currently supports more than 200 scholarships for students.

Those interested in donating to the ECC Foundation or establishing a scholarship can visit www.eastcentral.edu/foundation or email foundation@eastcentral.edu.

ECC Foundation Announces Sandy Upchurch Memorial Nursing Scholarship

May 9, 2018 | Campus News

The East Central College Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Sandy Upchurch Memorial Nursing Scholarship for the 2018-2019 school year.

The Pacific native and East Central College alumna was known as a caring, passionate person. She spent more than 30 years as a registered nurse in labor and delivery at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield – often caring for children in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Sandy was stricken with cancer and passed away on October 12th, 2016.

Through the scholarship, the family hopes it will encourage and instill the spirit to deliver compassionate care.

Students can apply for the scholarship on the ECC Foundation website. Two awards will be given annually to deserving students.

While the first award has been endowed by the family, donations can be made for the second award. All donations are tax-deductible. Please email foundation@eastcentral.edu for more information or call 636-584-6506.

Restructured Scholarships Open More Opportunities for Students

November 10, 2017 | Campus News

East Central College is restructuring its scholarships to help more students pay for college.

“This will not only encourage the recruitment of full-time students,” said Vice President of Student Services Shelli Allen, “but we also hope it will increase participation in part-time students.”

The new scholarship procedures were put together by a task force comprised of faculty, staff and administrators. The group reviewed current scholarships, researched best practices across the industry and determined how East Central College should allocate scholarships to students.

“The group decided there needed to be a bigger emphasis on persistence and completion,” explained Allen. “The College Completion Scholarship, for example, is an award for students who are within 12 credit hours of degree or certificate completion.”

Another award, the Operation: Graduation! Scholarship, is designed to help students who are meeting the “15 to Finish” timeline toward degree completion within the first two years of college.

“We want to do everything we can to lift the financial burden on our students,” said East Central College President Dr. Jon Bauer. “The scholarship task force found a way to use the funds we have to reach the students who need it most.”

Broader eligibility criteria is also a key component of the restructure. The Board of Trustees Scholarship, for example, was previously open only to students in the top 10 percent of their graduating class. It will now be open to high school graduates with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or who rank in the top 10 percent. The scholarship also now includes HiSET students, home schooled students, transfer students and currently enrolled students at East Central College.

Other changes include scholarships for students enrolled at least half-time, targeted recruitment scholarships for fine and performing arts and modified credit hour requirements for scholarship renewal.