Gene Haas Foundation Donates $10,000 to EGCC

The Gene Haas Foundation has donated $10,000 to Eastern Gateway Community College to continue to strengthen the machining program that the college has undertaken in the Mahoning Valley as part of its overall Energy and Engineering Initiatives.

Representatives of the foundation will present the check to EGCC on Friday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. The event will be held in the corridor at EGCC’s Valley Center, 101 East Federal Street, Youngstown, Ohio, 44503. A press conference will take place at that time, and administrators will answer questions from the media.

The grant money will support scholarship programs and the costs of National Institute of for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) credentialing. Officials said the scholarships will be given to current students or people who will be enrolled in a machining-based training program.

NIMS teamed up with the Gene Haas Foundation to create scholarship opportunities so schools can prepare more students for successful manufacturing careers. The scholarships help schools build high-quality technical programs by providing funding to support the implementation of industry-recognized credentials.

The Gene Haas Foundation was started in 1999 by Gene Haas, who is the owner of Haas Automation, Inc. The foundation supports children’s charities, organizations that feed the poor, grant scholarships for programs that help military veterans enrolls in programs, high school scholarships, community college scholarships, and special education programs that help build skills within the machining industry. To date, more than 1,200 charitable organizations and schools have received more than $38 million from the foundation.

For more information, please contact Sherri VanTassel, vice president for administrative services at EGCC.

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EGCC President Supports Governor’s Plans to Lower Cost of College Degrees

Ohio Gov. John Kasich released his 2016 Mid-Biennium Review on Tuesday, outlining new initiatives to reduce the cost of a college degree.

Eastern Gateway Community College President Jimmie Bruce said he fully supports the governor’s plan to make college more affordable. Bruce said lowering the cost of a higher education will help more people advance their education and, in turn, strengthen the state’s workforce.

“The reforms Governor Kasich proposed will help Ohioans earn a degree from the college or university of their choice and save them money. This is especially important for parents and working adults who want to further their careers,” Bruce said.

The governor’s proposal describes the important role community colleges play in the college affordability debate.

In response to Kasich’s proposal, Jack Hershey, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, said, “During his time as governor, John Kasich has repeatedly asked community college and university presidents to work together on reforms that are in the best interest of Ohio’s students, parents, and working adults that are pursuing a college degree. These reforms proposed today shine the light on a pathway that has emerged under Governor Kasich that allows students to obtain a degree from their favorite university, while saving up to 80 percent off the traditional cost of attendance by completing as much of their coursework as possible at a community college. The ability for middle class families, single parents, and working adults to obtain a debt-free college degree is once again a reality in Ohio.”

The governor’s 2016 Mid-Biennium Review includes plans for: Strengthening paths to a low-cost degree, helping universities drive down their costs, addressing student debt, and offering low-tuition opportunities through the Midwest Student Exchange Program. More information about the 2016 Mid-Biennium Review can be found on the Fact Sheet.

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