NCCC receives Draper grant

WINSTED — Northwestern Connecticut Community College recently received a $35,000 grant from The Draper Fund of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation.

The grant funds will be used to support the purchase of science equipment as well as equipment to expand NCCC’s makerspace. The equipment will strengthen science, technology, engineering and math curriculum for the region. A makerspace provides hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design and experiment, engaging them in all aspects of STEM components.

“We would like to express our gratitude to the Draper Fund and Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation board for their support of our STEM initiative here at Northwestern,” said NCCC president, Dr. Michael Rooke. “We are planning on growing our alignment with our high school partners to encourage students to go into STEM careers and this grant award from the Draper Fund helps us begin that process as it will take time and resources to develop.”

The Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation Inc. was founded in 1969 and serves 20 towns in the Connecticut northwest corner with more than 260 funds under its management, including The Draper Fund.

Northwestern Connecticut Community College is currently the only higher education facility in the northwest corner and has provided degree and certificate options to the area for more than 50 years. NCCC’s high school partnership program allows eligible area high school students the option of taking tuition-free college courses while still in high school, providing earlier immersion into their college career.

“This region will need a strong partnership between all educational providers to prepare students of the future for the careers that don’t even exist yet,” said Rooke. “We are excited to expand upon that work.”