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| Brett Woods (left), director of the SCC Foundation, is pictured here with, from left: Debbie Smith, SCC’s Educational Opportunities director; Wells Fargo representatives Melissa Ledford and Maggie Melton; Lynda Parlett, executive director of institutional development for SCC; and Dr. Don Tomas, president of SCC. |
Wells Fargo gave the SCC Foundation $3,000 to create a Workforce Development Assistance Fund, a grant program that will aid students in need with the costs of workforce certification testing.
Workforce certification, such as the Career Readiness Certification, is becoming a requirement for many employers.
The fund will also help with other fees associated with certification for students with financial needs.
“The Wells Fargo grant will allow many deserving students to complete the Career Readiness Certification, giving our students more leverage when competing for jobs,” said Debbie Smith, director of SCC’s Educational Opportunities department. “We are very thankful to Wells Fargo and excited about the opportunities this grant will create for students and employers.”
Maggie Melton, who is the business relationship manager at Wells Fargo, said, “The success of a city’s workforce is a critical element in keeping our communities strong and vibrant, and Wells Fargo is committed to supporting organizations that provide individuals with the skills and resources needed to flourish professionally and personally. We are proud to help SCC improve the quality of life for their students and thank them for their work to ensure a brighter tomorrow for all of us.”
SCC’s Educational Opportunities department offers students and community members opportunities to prepare for and succeed in college and the workplace.
“The Wells Fargo foundation has a great history of assisting with workforce development. The students and dislocated workers coming to SCC are usually faced with many financial obligations along with the fees for professional certification they need to get a job. Sometimes these additional fees are insurmountable and our staff are always searching for ways to assist. This grant will help us to assist a number of students who might not have been able to participate in this skills certification testing. We are very grateful to Wells Fargo for their commitment to assisting in workforce development,” said Lynda Parlett, SCC Executive Director of Institutional Development.
For more information on the Workforce Development Fund or to donate to the SCC Foundation, contact Lynda Parlett at l_parlett@southwesterncc.edu or828.339.4265. To learn more about Southwestern’s Educational Opportunities department, visit www.southwesterncc.edu/educational-opportunities.
