The Latest from the Foundation
NCC Loans Three Ventilators to Norwalk Hospital
Above, technicians from Norwalk Hospital roll away NCC’s ventilators to transport to the hospital.
NCC Foundation Executive Director Carrie Bernier and NCC CEO Cheryl DeVonish responded quickly to the COVID-19 crisis by coordinating the transfer of urgently needed equipment to Norwalk Hospital. NCC has loaned its three ventilators as Norwalk Hospital was in dire need for such equipment. The particular models of ventilators donated were originally selected so that NCC students could train on the same equipment used by area hospitals. This means Norwalk Hospital staff will be familiar with the donated equipment and it can be put to immediate use in treating COVID-19 patients.
Raising Money for Laptops and Grocery Gift Cards
With the closure of Norwalk Community College’s campus and the move to online learning, many students have found themselves cut of off from vital services that were available to them at NCC. These include computer labs, where students without a computer at home would study, and the food pantry. NCC was one of the first colleges in Connecticut to address food insecurity on campus by making an on-site food pantry available to all students. The need was clear, with students at NCC reporting in a survey they “don’t have enough money to spend on food” and that they “can’t afford to eat balanced meals.” (more…)
Coaching Program Spring Semester Workshop
NCC Foundation Board Director Amy Richman, Pitney Bowes Head of Global Talent Acquisition and her colleague Sheryl Battles, Pitney Bowes Head of Global Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement, led an engaging presentation for our coached scholarship students this week. Pitney Bowes is a long-time champion of the Foundation. Their support makes workshops like these, and Foundation led programs like Summer Bridge Math, all possible.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Mobin Rastgar Agah, Engineering Department
Asked what attracted him to teaching at NCC, Dr. Mobin Rastgar Agah says, “I truly believe we provide opportunities for students here.” As the engineering coordinator and an associate professor of engineering at NCC, he has observed that even though some students may have encountered daunting obstacles or experienced setbacks prior to coming to NCC that “changed their path in life, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have the potential to be successful.”
Good job!
The average GPA of all current Foundation scholarship recipients studying at NCC was 3.31 at the end of the fall semester!
Networking and Career Advice for NCC Scholars
Two NCC Foundation scholarship recipients, Jersy Esquivel and Gordon Hanssen, joined finance professionals in New York City for a daylong workshop entitled, “Classroom to Boardroom, Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today” at Neuberger Berman. It was a unique opportunity to gain practical advice and insights from finance professionals, as well as to learn strategies for building a resume and career path. Both students reported that they learned critical networking skills and strategies.