Duke Energy Grant Supports NCC STEM Summer Camps
From left: NCC Foundation Board President Robyn Perkerson, NCC Foundation Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director Pam Ballew, Duke Energy Community Relations Manager and NCC Foundation Board Member Tanya Evans, 2017-2018 NCC Foundation Campaign Chair Frank Maynard, NCC Mathematics Department Chair Dina Pitt, and NCC President Dr. Bill Carver.
Nash Community College has been awarded $75,000 by Duke Energy Foundation to support the Eighth to Associate Degree program, and $5,000 for student scholarships. With the support, NCC will increase the number of STEM summer camps for students in 8th grade through 2nd year college students to encourage their future enrollment in STEM programs. The camps will be open to all with emphasis on economically disadvantaged populations and females.
The Eighth to Associate Degree project will educate the next generation of innovators through STEM summer camps, encourage enrollment in STEM programs, and develop a pipeline to meet the needs of the region’s industry. Many of the medium and higher wage jobs being created in North Carolina will require STEM-related skills, creating barriers to employment for unprepared workers. Rural areas of NC specifically are struggling to combat population loss, especially the acute shortage of skilled workers. Therefore, NCC is helping to ensure students, especially those underrepresented in STEM programs, have access to explore STEM-related concepts so they may develop a passion for the field.
NCC has made significant progress in building a strong STEM program, including the acquisition of scientific equipment allowing for early experiential learning with instrumentation used in industry and contemporary research. Although STEM has traditionally been viewed as a male-dominated field, NCC’s STEM summer camps help to increase all participants’ confidence to pursue and succeed in STEM education and careers.
The funds will be used to purchase equipment and supplies needed to enhance STEM-focused K-12 summer camps, and scholarships for females and economically disadvantaged populations, to provide access and encourage program participation.
For more information about summer camp enrollment, please call 252-451-8216. For a full list of NCC’s 2018 summer camps, visit www.nashcc.edu/summercamps.
About Duke Energy Foundation
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company’s Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States. Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.
