Hey Muskegon! There’s a new STEM Lab at the Lakeshore Fab Lab that is designed to pique the interest of students from kindergarten through 12th grade in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Bolstered by a grant of $238,200 by the Consumers Energy Foundation, the STEM Lab recently held a grand opening to introduce the STEM Lab to the community. The grant was awarded as one of three People Awards.
“This grant supports this beautiful Lab and the hiring of a STEM coordinator who is going to help students learn about the connection between STEM and great careers,” said Carolyn Bloodworth, secretary/treasurer of the Consumers Energy Foundation.
That focus on STEM is vitally important to the community. So is MCC’s intention to engage with children from traditionally underserved communities and families who homeschool their children. At the ribbon cutting, Muskegon Community College Board Chair Diane Osborn acknowledged that their grant proposal was written intentionally to make sure they reach those children.
Supporting community colleges like MCC is nothing new for the Consumers Energy Foundation. In fact, the Foundation awarded the Michigan Community Colleges Association a People Award for $100,000 to help provide for student needs beyond the classroom.
MCC’s retiring president, Dr. Dale Nesbary, acknowledged the Foundation’s support goes beyond one grant and how their partnership helps the college serve Muskegon.
“For these wonderful students here, this helps them accomplish what they need to accomplish,” said Nesbary. “We didn’t become the best community college in the state by happenstance, it’s through the help of groups like these.”
Osborn echoed those sentiments, invoking a new take on the old phrase about Real Estate. “In Real Estate, they say the three most important words are location, location, location. Today, the three most important things are thank you, thank you, thank you!”
