Davidson County Community College awarded $18,000 for SECU Bridge to Career Cohort program
Davidson County Community College will participate in the State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Bridge to Career Cohort program offering 30 scholarships in the amount of $500 each for local industrial areas seeking skilled labor specialists.
The scholarships will focus on the workforce development areas of carpentry, manufacturing maintenance and welding for the 2019-2020 academic year. The remaining $3,000 awarded is designated for the administration of the cohort program.
“We are very honored and excited to be a part of SECU’s new Bridge to Career Program,” Carolyn Davis, DCCC’s director of Customized Training and Workforce Development, said. “The employment opportunities in these skilled trades for our service areas of Davidson and Davie Counties are tremendous. The demand for individuals with these specific skill sets is very high, and the continuing education courses at DCCC provide that training.”
The SECU Bridge to Career Cohort program was created to help remove financial barriers for students seeking to obtain state-regulated or industry-recognized credentials. The SECU Foundation established the program to aid students wishing to seek sustainable wage careers within key industrial areas of their local communities.
“This is an open door for life-changing opportunities in high demand trade industries,” Dean of Workforce Development and Continuing Education Pat Phillips said. “With guidance from our industry partners and SECU’s support of our students’ success, we are excited to see a new generation of confident and skilled tradespeople ready to meet the community’s need for their important work.”
To be eligible for the program, prospective students must be a U.S. citizen and North Carolina resident, enrolled in one of the three program areas with a short-term training course of 96-hours or more, and have completed their enrolled pathway before August 31, 2020. Students must also be unemployed or underemployed, a member of the N.C. National Guard, military veterans and spouses, or underserved populations in a specific workforce area or sector. Preference will be given to those with limited or no access to financial aid from other programs.
“We’re so thankful to the SECU Foundation for this program supporting our students and community workforce, and I can’t wait to see the positive impact this work will have firsthand in Davidson and Davie counties,” Davis said.
For those interested in learning more about the program or applying, Davis serves as the primary point of contact for the program via email at Carolyn_Davis@DavidsonCCC.edu.
