February 13, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE FOUNDATION AT MCCC ANNOUNCES
WINTER 2008 ENHANCEMENT GRANT AWARDS

MONROE, Mich. – The Foundation at Monroe County Community College has announced the recipients of its Winter 2008 Enhancement Grants Program Awards. 

Thirteen grant applications – with requested amounts ranging from $300 to $3,000 – were reviewed by the The Foundation Enhancement Grants Program Committee, and 11 of those requests were granted with full or partial funding for a total allocation of $20,000.   

The Enhancement Grants Program assists faculty, staff and students by providing funding for the development and implementation of innovative projects that support the MCCC mission and enrich or improve the quality of education for students.  The funded grant projects and their recipients, which were announced at a reception held last week in the La-Z-Boy Center, include:

Culinary Program Trip to Chicago International Food Show, applicant Chef Kevin Thomas, instructor of culinary skills, for an award of $2,594.  This funding will assist 13 second-year MCCC culinary students in attending the National Restaurant Association Show 2008 in Chicago May 17 through May 20.  The world’s largest foodservice and hospitality event, the NRA Show will deliver information and educational sessions on the products and information culinary professionals need to manage operations, address food safety, develop new menu successes, improve efficiency through technology and test new equipment.

International Relations Class and Club Trip to United Nations in New York City, applicant,  Dr. Joanna Sabo, professor of political science, for an award of $2,594.  This grant will be used to help offset the cost for travel and admission expenses for 25 students who will visit New York City to tour the United Nations Headquarters and receive a special briefing from a U.N. official.  Students will gain specific insight regarding international law and the roles of both the U.N. and the U.S.

MASS Field Trip to visit Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, New York, applicant, Lori Bean, associate professor of biology/chemistry, for an award of $2,594.  This funding will allow students of the MCCC Math and Science Society to visit the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, N.Y., as well as the American Museum of Natural History.  Brookhaven National Laboratory is one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s ten national laboratories conducting research in the physical sciences, life and biomedical sciences, energy and environmental sciences and national security.

Respiratory Therapy Student Teams (4) to Compete at the Michigan Society for Respiratory Care’s Annual Sputum Bowl, applicant Bonnie Boggs, director of respiratory therapy, for an award of $2,594.  This grant will be used to sponsor four teams from MCCC – four students per team – to compete in the annual Sputum Bowl Competition conducted by the Michigan Society for Respiratory Care.  The competition will be in Grand Rapids April 1- 2 in conjunction with the MSRC’s annual meeting.  The Sputum Bowl is a trivia competition similar to a college quiz bowl.

The Humanities Experience, applicant Cheryl Johnston, assistant professor of reading and English, for an award of $2,500.  This award will be used to defray the cost for students to attend live theatre productions.  During the fall semester, students will attend two plays in Stratford, Ontario during a two-day field trip.  During the winter semester, students will attend Wayne State University’s Hilberry Theatre or, alternatively, the Wayne State University Touring Theatre may perform at MCCC.  Funds may also be used to defray the cost of guest performers invited to MCCC during both fall and winter semesters.

Michigan Nurses MARCH!, applicant Bonnie Welniak, assistant professor of nursing, for an award of $2,500.  This funding will allow 34 MCCC nursing students to attend Michigan Nurses MARCH!, an event that brings together hundreds of nurses and nursing students to learn the latest news on legislation, meet with legislators and rally on the Capitol steps in Lansing concerning issues that radically affect nursing practice.

Press Day 2008 at MCCC, applicant, Mark Bergmooser, assistant professor of speech, journalism and tae kwon do, for an award of $2,000.  On April 5, MCCC will host Press Day, the Michigan Community College Press Association’s state conference.  This grant will help fund the event, during which community college journalism students from across the state will attend seminars and roundtables, meet with other student journalists, listen to keynote speakers and compete for awards.

Amaizin’ Blue / Agora Chorale, applicants Tom Ryder, campus/community events coordinator, and John Tyner, director of the Agora Chorale, for an award of $1,000.  This funding will allow the Agora Chorale to perform with Amaizin’ Blue – the University of Michigan’s award-winning, co-ed
a cappella group – at one of the group’s concerts.  Partnering with a high-level group like Amaizin’ Blue will expose the Agora Chorale students to proper a cappella techniques, which will enhance the overall sound and performance level of the Agora Chorale’s vocals.

Lunch and Learn at the Whitman Center, applicant Sandy Kosmyna, director of the Whitman Center, for an award of $600.  Funding awarded through this grant will support a “Lunch and Learn”
program at the Whitman Center.  Displays and guest speakers will be hosted to address issues selected to
enlighten students on contemporary topics, diversity issues and career development.

Holocaust Memorial Center Visit, applicant Dr. Terri Kovach, professor/reference-technical services librarian, for an award of $525.  This grant will be used to allow students in the Sociology 161 – Death, Loss & Grief course to travel as a group to the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills to participate in a docent-guided tour and, depending upon the schedule, listen to a presentation by a Holocaust survivor.  The goals of the field trip are to reinforce both the historical reality of the Holocaust and the social consequences of suffering caused by personal and cultural losses; to help students appreciate different cultural and religious experiences of death and dying, and to travel as a group to the Museum in order to reinforce the cohesiveness of the class, which often deals with sensitive and emotional issues.

Women in Robotics, applicant Bob Leonard, instructor of manufacturing technology, for an award of $500.  This grant will be used to purchase instructional materials needed to create a robotic device to be entered in competition.  The objective is to expose students to a hands-on, team-oriented engineering design project to fabricate a robot for competition in an effort to stimulate interest in technology careers. A major emphasis of the program is to encourage participation by students who are women.

 The Foundation Enhancement Grants Program Committee includes Dr. John Holladay, professor of English and philosophy; John Joy, dean of Corporate and Community Services; Susan R.S. Miller, Foundation director; Chris Sims, administrative assistant to the manager of information systems, and Dr. Bernard Sisman, Foundation director.

To donate to The Foundation at MCCC Enhancement Grants Program, contact Suzanne Wetzel, director of institutional advancement and executive director of The Foundation, at (734) 384-4206.