Shoreline Breakfast Rotary supports SCC student scholarships

Approximately 400 Shoreline Community College Worker Retraining students learned in May that the decline of the state budget hit close to home.

In past years, there was enough funding to support full tuition awards for Worker Retraining students for several quarters – now with state dollars dwindling, students are eligible for only two quarters of help, with a maximum of $925 per quarter. This means that students who have already completed two or more quarters are no longer eligible for worker retraining dollars, money they counted on when starting their programs.

To make matters worse, the funding is available to only those students who are enrolled full-time (12 credits or more and 10 credits in summer). Although other state and federal assistance is available, restrictions on those funding streams can make it difficult, many times impossible, for many students to qualify.

“It is in times like this when we see our community leaders go above and beyond to help our students,” said Jane McNabb, SCC Foundation Executive Director. “Although the Shoreline Breakfast Rotary made a $4,000 donation for student scholarships at this year’s Foundation Breakfast, they recently gave another $2,000 when they learned about the position that our Worker Retraining students face.”

“We are especially grateful for this gift in response to our needs for the students in our Workforce programs that would be unable to continue their programs without these scholarships.”

James Abbott, President of the Shoreline Breakfast Rotary said the support fits the mission of Rotary.

“One of our principal objectives in Rotary is support of continuing education for those who demonstrate promise and perseverance,” Abbott said in a letter to the foundation on June 8, 2011. “We have seen many students at Shoreline Community College with these attributes. We appreciate your efforts in preparing these students for the many challenges that can only be solved by the diverse educational opportunities provided at Shoreline Community College."

Kim Cambern, Program Specialist with the Worker Retraining Program, says that even though the situation is not good, students need to know that the funding will be available.

“You will receive all the same services you have in the past,” Cambern said in a recent letter to students.” She also reminded students that unemployment compensation will not be affected by the Worker Retraining cuts as long as they stay in school.

McNabb encourages students to apply for worker retraining scholarships; the application is located on the college’s Foundation website.