Lexington, KY - The PNC Foundation has awarded the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) a $120,000 sum to act as scholarships over the next three years at seven of the system’s campuses.
Presented by PNC Bank’s regional president, John Gohmann, this grant will fund the PNC Skilled Workforce Investment Scholarship Program at KCTCS. “The best way to make a meaningful economic impact on our state is through public and private partnerships,” said Gohmann.
The program is meant to advance the efforts of BEAM, the Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement, by funding community and technical college training of more students for high wage, high demand workforce programs. The announcement of the scholarships was made at the end of the quarterly BEAM Board Meeting in Frankfort.
Lexington Mayor Jim Gray said, “We’ve heard from our manufacturers that they cannot hire the right people, with the right skills.” The new PNC program will help move people into these jobs.
KCTCS President Michael B. McCall described the PNC gift as, “designed to nurture and support manufacturers, beginning with Lexington and Louisville.” Healthcare, advanced manufacturing and transportation training will receive special emphasis for funding. “The PNC Skilled Workforce Investment Scholarship Program at KCTCS will encourage students to consider those high wage, high demand careers,” said McCall.
The one-time, $120,000 “scholarship” to the KCTCS Foundation will be distributed to seven community colleges within the KCTCS system that fall within PNC’s market area. The largest portion of funds, $35,000, will go to Jefferson Community and Technical College; Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) will receive $30,000. Scholarship funds will be awarded to students over the next three years, beginning in the upcoming spring semester.
Funding preference will be given to students from low-income, minority households and to applicants from the Lexington and Louisville region. Priority will further be given to students in high wage, high demand workforce development programs and/or those who plan to transfer to a four-year university after completing their community college education. Scholarship recipients will receive $1000 per year ($500 per semester) to use toward tuition and may reapply annually. A full-time student taking a 15 credit hour course-load would see a reduction in tuition fees of approximately 25 percent.
PNC regional president Gohmann emphasized that, “A business cannot succeed if its communities are not well-positioned for future growth and success.” PNC’s goal for the scholarship program is, “to further the development of Kentucky’s workforce and insure the long-term vitality of the communities we serve across the Commonwealth.” As he presented a mock check, suitable for the day’s photo opportunity, he stood with KCTCS President Mike McCall, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, and KCTCS Foundation President Lee Hess.
PNC, which has a sizeable footprint in our region’s banking universe, has a history of proactive corporate citizenship. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, its Foundation emphasizes education, economic development, and environmental stewardship in grant funding. The KCTCS/BEAM program is a clear match for two of the PNC Foundation’s primary interests.
Jane S. Shropshire guides students and families through the college search process and is Business Lexington’s Higher Ed. Matters columnist. Contact her at Jshrop@att.net.