MCCC’s Center For Workforce Development Offers Scholarships For Online Manufacturing Fundamentals Course‏

Blue Bell/Pottstown, PA — As a result of technology and automation, today’s manufacturing jobs require more advanced skills for employees, as well as an overall understanding of the processes.

To assist people who are seeking first-time employment in manufacturing or who recently entered the industry, Montgomery County Community College’s Center for Workforce Development (CWD) is offering scholarships for an online, non-credit Manufacturing Fundamentals course to help them gain a basic understanding of today’s manufacturing environment.

Thanks to a generous gift from the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), the College’s CWD can offer $100 scholarships to cover the course fee for the first 100 participants who register. The scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The six-week Manufacturing Fundamentals course covers the role of production design, process planning and 13 different manufacturing processes. The course will help participants understand and master product development concepts such as the voice of the customer, quality function deployment and failure mode and effects analysis, among others.

While participants will not need to purchase any textbooks, they will need Internet access, email, and Internet browser (Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.0 or above, Google Chrome or Safari) and Adobe PDF plug-in (a free download is available at Adobe.com).

For more information about the course, visit http://www.ed2go.com/mc3/online-courses/manufacturing-fundamentals?tab=syllabus. To register and receive the scholarship, contact Geraldine Rossetti at 215-461-1127 or grossett@mc3.edu.

The scholarship program for the Manufacturing Fundamentals course is one of the workforce training initiatives MCCC is able to offer to the community as a result of receiving a matching grant of $2,177,471 from MCEDC in 2015. This exceptional gift established an endowment supporting MCCC’s expertise in educating and training students for regional jobs and careers. Since it is a matching grant, donations have double the impact in funding vital workforce development initiatives.

The first distribution from matched funds is supporting four initiatives:  an Innovation and Sustainability Hub Learning Lab for Hydroponics and Aquaponics, Advanced Manufacturing training and support, Workforce Skills Modules in Information Technology and Manufacturing and a Software Developer Academy.

MCEDC’s grant started a new chapter in community college philanthropy and its matching gift challenge presents the community with the opportunity to invest in tomorrow’s workforce. To discuss funding opportunities or personal goals in making gift in support of the match, contact the Foundation at 215-641-6529.

Greater Norristown Police Athletic League To Host Free Regional College Fair

Norristown, Pa.— College-bound students and their parents are invited to a Regional College Fair at the Greater Norristown Police Athletic League, 340 Harding Blvd., Norristown, on Thursday, Feb. 19. Visit http://www.greaternorristownpal.org/events for a list of participating colleges and universities.

The public portion of the fair runs from 6-7:30 p.m., during which high students in grades nine through 12 and their parents can talk with representatives from more than 30 college and universitiy about admissions, financial aid, scholarships and academic programs. This portion of the event is free and is open to the community.

Earlier in the day, Norristown eighth grade students will visit the fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to learn about the various institutions and programs as they begin to explore college opportunities. This portion is closed to the public.

The Regional College Fair is sponsored by Montgomery County Community College, the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC) and the Greater Norristown Police Athletic League.

For more information, Visit greaternorristownpal.org/events or call MCCC Assistant Director of Admissions Carolyn White at 215-641-6561.

Penn State Reports 16-Percent Increase In Applications From Prospective Students

Counties constituting the Happy Valley Region of Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Penn State is seeing a boom in the number of undergraduate applications for admission in the next academic year.

As of Monday, the university had received almost 46,000 applications from prospective baccalaureate students, a figure that is more than 7,500 ahead of the number of applications received at this time last year. The count is more in line with the number of applications received at this time in 2010 and 2011.

From this applicant pool, the university has made 11,000 offers.

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2013/12/11/3937867/number-of-students-applying-to.html#storylink=cpy

Today’s Pottstown Mercury Readers View

I was pleased to see a nice thank you letter in the Mercury today.  Courtney Sell was the recipient of a college scholarship from the now defunct Century Club of Pottstown.  It is gratifying to see young people who were taught to say please and thank you.  Courtney’s letter showed true appreciation.

The loss of service organizations are devastating to the communities they served.  Four less college scholarships will be awarded next year because the Century Club is now only a memory.   The loss of these scholarships could mean four less Pottstown students attend college next year or place a further burden on the student and their family to find other financial aid.

😦