Power:Ed Awards Six Grants Totaling $325,000
Columbia, S.C., February 23, 2022 — Power:Ed, a philanthropy of SC Student Loan, has awarded $25,000 to Community Foundation of the Lowcountry for South Carolina Nurse Retention Scholarships, $50,000 to Midlands Technical College Foundation, $100,000 to University of South Carolina Educational Foundation, $25,000 to Clemson University Foundation, $25,000 to Converse University’s Converse Trailblazer Expansion Program and $100,000 to Teach For America SC.
Community Foundation of the Lowcountry administers South Carolina Nurse Retention Scholarships to attract and retain high-quality nursing talent in South Carolina. It provides financial aid and ongoing educational support to graduating nurses who choose to stay in the Beaufort area. The Power:Ed grant will provide post-graduate financial relief to assist with student loan debt and other financial concerns from the cost of their nursing education SCNRS' goal is to retain nurses in the Lowcountry to help mitigate the current nursing shortage.
“The South Carolina Nurse Retention Scholarship is proud to be partnered with Power:Ed to address the nursing shortage in South Carolina,” said Dr. Will Fuller, Co-Founder of SCNRS. “Together, we strive to address educational barriers and improve lives. The recent grant provided by Power:Ed to the SCNRS supports the SCNRS’ effort to retain nurses in Beaufort County by providing them with needed financial support. This unique scholarship award is a community thank you to these nurses for their dedication to the profession and their continued work in our community.”
Midlands Technical College Foundation serves adult learners in the Midlands through their Quickjobs scholarships program. The program provides workforce development training in jobs vital to our economic recovery. Midlands Tech created the QuickJobs job training programs to close the job skills gap and fill available positions with middle-skilled workers and these programs are designed to provide intensive and complete job training. There are more than 50 training programs, lasting from three weeks to 15 months, all of which prepare students for careers in business, healthcare, information technology, skilled trades and advanced manufacturing. This type of program isn’t eligible for federal or state financial aid, making scholarships vital for students who would otherwise have no way of gaining the skills they need to quickly enter the workforce.
“MTC’s QuickJobs is a career training program that transforms the lives of those who are unemployed and underemployed. Thanks to financial support from Power:Ed, more people in our community will be able to lift themselves through learning, then secure a job that pays a living wage and allow families to thrive,” said MTC President Ron Rhames.
University of South Carolina Educational Foundation’s Carolina Teacher Induction Program provides support aligned to the stages of development in new teachers through targeted training sessions, on-site support, and personalized, teacher-focused coaching from a dedicated Carolina Coach. The Carolina TIP Program is a bridge program between teacher preparation and the classrooms with the purpose of positively impacting teacher retention. The average annual retention rate for participating CarolinaTIP teachers is 97.8% which is consistently 30-40% higher than the state and national averages for retaining new teachers, especially in hard to staff schools and districts. Power:Ed funds will support 40 new teachers for the next two school years.
“The University of South Carolina’s College of Education extends its deepest appreciation to Power:Ed for its support of new teacher retention through the Carolina Teacher Induction Program (CarolinaTIP). With the generous investment from Power:Ed, CarolinaTIP is excited to expand the program to serve more districts and teachers in the 2022-2023 school year. This new partnership highlights the joint dedication of Power:Ed and UofSC to positively impact new teachers across South Carolina. As we work together to impact teaching and learning, one teacher at a time, the true beneficiaries will be the schools, districts, communities, and students we ultimately serve." Said Nicole Skeen, Director of Carolina TIP.
Clemson University Foundation’s PEER & WISE program helps remove existing barriers to encourage students from underrepresented populations throughout South Carolina to become interested in STEM fields of education. These students, many of whom are women, historically enter STEM majors at a lower rate than their counterparts. Through Girl Scout Days, STEM Days, school visits and field trips, Power:Ed funds will help to provide workshops and activities that will build the pipeline of underrepresented 9th-12th grade students to STEM fields.
“PEER & WISE is honored to collaborate with Power:Ed,” stated Serita Acker, Executive Director of PEER and WISE. “This new partnership will support pathways and initiatives to diversify STEM career pathways.”
Converse University’s Converse Trailblazer Expansion Program serves incoming and current Converse students who identify as one whose parent or guardian has not received a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree. This provides a smooth transition to college for first-generation students through mentorship networks as well as academic and social resources. In addition, this program is building a first-generation community, allowing students to develop their voices and advocate for themselves as they prepare for a successful transition to the workforce.
“The vibrant Trailblazer program at Converse is at the heart of our mission to empower our students with a transformative educational experience. We are honored to be the recipients of this Power:Ed grant that will enable Converse to grow new opportunities for our first-generation students and enhance our Trailblazer experience to be even more dynamic and impactful,” said Dr. Boone Hopkins, Interim President, Converse University.
Teach For America SC (TFASC) provides a coaching program to develop high-impact new teachers, ensuring that every teacher creates an atmosphere of educational excellence to help more than 1,700 students prepare for high school graduation. In addition, these mentored teachers will empower low-income students to thrive, achieve dramatic academic gains and be better prepared for future success through teacher coaching.
“Unlocking the potential of the next generation of leaders requires those that have been given the privilege of teaching to be equipped with the training, tools, and resources needed to positively impact students,” said Troy Evans, Executive Director for TFASC. “Power:Ed’s partnership and investment in Teach For America SC will provide coaching for our front-line teachers who touch the lives of thousands of students.”
About Power:Ed
Power:Ed, a philanthropy of SC Student Loan is dedicated to creating opportunities for South Carolina’s youth by supporting low-income, minority, and first-generation students; improving access to college and degree completion; and creating pathways to quality workforce opportunities.
If you're interested in applying for a grant or partnering with Power:Ed, visit power-ed.org.