By Staff
For 30-year-old Don Higgs and 45-year-old Vanessa Fry, both of Dowagiac, returning to school has been the silver lining inside the dark cloud that loomed over their lives when they were laid off from Ameriwood last year.
The company closed down its Dowagiac operations, leaving more than 100 people unemployed.
But through the help of Michigan's No Worker Left Behind program and Southwestern Michigan College, both Higgs and Fry were able to enroll in SMC's Information Systems program.
The Dowagiac residents learned about the NWLB program through two open house sessions sponsored by SMC last August and November.
The college is scheduling its third No Worker Left Behind open house from 5:30-7:30 p.m. July 17 at the SMC Dowagiac campus.
The open house will be held in the Mathews Conference Center East in conjunction with Michigan Works!
Since the NWLB program began last August, 126 individuals enrolled at SMC with 17 being completely funded by the state program. The remaining 109 people were able to attend SMC through other funding sources, including federal financial aid, as well as SMC scholarships.
"There are a number of financial aid opportunities out there that people don't realize can help pay for their education," said Dr. Diane Chaddock, vice president and chief operating officer at SMC. "We have coordinated with Michigan Works! to insure that people receive assistance, whether it is from the No Worker Left Behind program or through SMC's financial aid office. The personal contact people received made a difference."
Because of Michigan's sagging economy and the number of people who applied for assistance through the NWLB program, the state began a waiting list last fall for the program.
SMC offered students who had applied for the NWLB program when funds ran out a NWLB Bridging Scholarship. The Bridging Scholarship pays up to eight credits per semester and $150 towards books and supplies, and is renewable each semester for qualified students.
"We didn't want people to get excited about the program and then find out the funding wasn't there," said Chaddock.
"We wanted to keep the ball rolling."
The No Worker Left Behind proposal provides up to $10,000 in free tuition to educate and train Michigan residents, who are unemployed.
Under NWLB, individuals can enroll in a two- or four-year degree program or technical training curriculum geared towards a high-demand occupation, emerging industry or entrepreneurship track.
SMC offers associate or bachelor's degrees in six of the 10 fastest-growing occupations identified by Michigan Works!
All of these fast-growing areas are degree or certificate programs available at SMC.
For more information, contact SMC at 800-456-8675, ext. 1413 or visit www.swmich.edu/nwlb/index.php.