Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1400548
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 11-17, 2021 UCW 11 Grants will help High School Connections program at FTCC a STAFF REPORT Fayetteville Technical Community College's High School Connections program provides high school stu- dents the option to begin earning col- lege credit while still in high school. HSC offers more than 30 Career and Technical Education certificate programs that lead to entry-level job credentials/certificates. ese path- ways provide essential knowledge, technical capabilities and employabil- ity skills for career success that bridge workforce gaps by linking secondary and post-secondary curriculum. is summer, FTCC Foundation received two grants from local orga- nizations that will be used to create a resource fund for the HSC program at FTCC. Cumberland Community Founda- tion awarded a Community Grant in the amount of $20,000. e United Way of Cumberland County awarded the Foundation a $15,000 grant through the Youth Growth Stock Trust. FTCC Foundation partners with donors to support FTCC by raising awareness and financial resources that can provide college access for students to attain their educational and career goals. e HSC Resource Fund will provide funds to pay for books and program supplies for high school students from low-income families who wish to continue their education beyond high school. is project will be offered community-wide and will leverage resources by providing long- term solutions to low-income stu- dents by increasing their job opportu- nities through higher education and job skills. e goal for the resource fund is to overcome financial barriers and increase educational access. Aaron Mabe, coordinator of the HSC program at FTCC, noticed that for many students attending Title I high schools or residing in economi- cally distressed communities, the cost of supplies and materials was a barrier to successful program completion. "ese grants will provide access and equitable opportunities for stu- dents who wish to learn marketable job skills and valuable trades. Without these resources, many students would not be able to afford the books and tool kits needed to take the classes. We are grateful for the support from Cumberland Community Foundation and the United Way," Mabe said. Dual (high school/college) enroll- ment courses provide a wide variety of exciting offerings to high school students including photovoltaic, colli- sion repair, welding and construction management. ese programs allow students to complete a certificate or diploma aligned with in-demand state, re- gional and/or local workforce needs. While traditional transferable college courses require textbooks or lab kits, the majority of career and technical education programs require additional supplies to instruct skill mastery. FTCC's academic departments work diligently to accommodate the financial cost of program supplies and minimize the substantial out- of-pocket cost to students. For many students attending Title I high schools or residing in economically distressed communities, the cost of supplies and materials is a barrier to successful program completion. According to U.S. Census Data (from 2019), prior to the pandemic, median household income in Cumberland County averaged around $45,000 with 17% of families living in poverty. ere are 13 public high schools in Cumberland County. e percentage of their student body considered to be economically disadvantaged ranges from 34.6% to 69.7%, with an average of 55%. To learn more about FTCC's High School Connections program, please visit www.faytechcc.edu/academics/ high-school-connections/ or call 910- 678-8583. . HEROES HOMECOMING '21 TO REMEMBER POW/MIA SERVICE MEMBERS Heroes Homecoming, a county-wide ini a ve developed to recognize and appreciate ac ve duty & veterans for their courage and sacrifice, will honor the medical military and first responders who were on the front line during the CO- VID-19 pandemic. This year's Heroes Homecoming IX will run November 4 through November 11. All events will be announced at the end of August. Heroes Homecoming IX will once again honor service members who are s ll listed as Prisoner of War (POW)/ Missing in Ac on (MIA) by spearheading an effort to get Missing Man tables set up at places of business throughout Cumberland County. "The organiza ons that are part of Heroes Homecoming agree that we must not forget those who served as POW or who are s ll MIA," says Angie Brady, Faye eville Area Conven on & Visitors Bureau (FACVB) Di- rector of Tourism Marke ng. "We have 180 displays – 170 Missing Man Table Kits and 10 Honor Chairs - to lend to local businesses for this important effort." The Heroes Homecoming commi ee will provide all ma- terials needed, except the table, chair, salt and saltshaker. Par cipa ng businesses need to rope off or clearly indicate their table display or Honor Chair is for display only. Each Missing Man table or Honor Chair shall be displayed from November 1 through November 30, 2021. Cumberland County business owners interested in reserv- ing a table kit or Honor Chair, can reserve online at www. heroeshomecoming.com/missing-man-project/. For ques- ons, please contact Angie at (910) 483-5311 or abrady@ visi aye evillenc.com. AUTHOR : Melody Foote FACVB Director of Communications B U L L E T I N Fayetteville Merchandise in person at 245 Person Street 8 am - 5 pm or: www.FayettevilleNCGear.com NEWS