Grants Office Operates through Advancement
Claudia Johnson, who holds a B.A. in English-Journalism from Union
University, has spent her career in community development, public relations,
marketing or news reporting. Before joining the CSCCF staff, she was executive
director of the 501c3 Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation, where she was responsible
for all aspects of fundraising, staff management, event planning, grant
writing, public relations/marketing and accounting. During her tenure at a
regional development agency, she wrote grants for federal and state funds, bringing
millions of infrastructure development dollars into a rural area of Tennessee. She
is an experienced public speaker, grant writer, photographer, publications
designer, event organizer and organization/project manager. She has served on
numerous regional and state committees and boards. She was one of 9 state
coordinators for Tennessee Homecoming ’86; was editor-in-chief of the
Cumberland Business Journal; author of the books A Page from the Past
and Giles Heirlooms; and won first place from Tennessee Press
Assoc. for her work on the 150th anniversary of the Pulaski Citizen.
More
about her is available at claudiajohnson.blogspot.com or pastpage.blogspot.com.
Click here for the official Columbia State Grants Handbook.
Ron York and Friends on Exhibit at Columbia State’s Pryor Gallery
An eclectic mix of the work of 17 artists
is on display at the Columbia State Community College Pryor Art Gallery through
Nov. 15. Featured artists are each represented by York and Friends Fine Art, a
Belle Meade-based gallery owned by painter and interior designer Ron York.
Pryor Gallery Curator Rusty Summerville explains, “The Pryor Gallery’s new
exhibit features a varied mix of styles ranging from impressionism to realism
and contemporary with a few whimsical pieces also included.” “We believe there will be something of interest for people of diverse artistic tastes,” Summerville said. “These 17 artists work in a wide range of mediums – acrylic, oil, jewelry, fused glass and more.”
Artists include Vicki Shipley, Pete
Sullivan, Ruthie Cherry, W.J. Cunningham, Ron York, Jan Bell, Jennifer Padgett,
Gina Cochran, Jade Reynolds, David Nichols, Gay Petach, Michael Bush, Lassie
McDonald Crowder, Marilyn Wendling, Linda Dalton, Beth Affolter, and Mildred
Jarrett.
"The artists will be on hand Thursday evening, Oct. 25, to meet the public and answer questions about their art," said Summerville, who organized the exhibit.
"The artists will be on hand Thursday evening, Oct. 25, to meet the public and answer questions about their art," said Summerville, who organized the exhibit.
Tennessee’s RX TN consortium funding includes Columbia State
$500 million in community college
grants awarded to expand job training through local employer partnerships
More than $500 million in grants to community
colleges and universities around the country for the development and expansion
of innovative training programs have been awarded as part of the Trade
Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative, which
promotes skills development and employment opportunities in fields such as
advanced manufacturing, transportation and health care, as well as science,
technology, engineering and math careers through partnerships between training
providers and local employers.
The RX TN program is designed to improve the
opportunities to Trade Adjustment Assistance-eligible workers and others in
health care-related training while at the same time meet the needs of the
health care employers and industry, according to Claudia Johnson, Advancement Office Director of Grants. "The total award amount for RX TN was
$12,570,415. Columbia State’s proposed portion of the funds was set at
$937,935."
Johnson noted that the RX TN project contains a strong student support prescription component designed to serve students and potential students to prepare for and make good decisions in selecting health care training as well as being successful once they start training to complete and obtain employment. The proposal also contains training prescriptions to address specific occupational training components that are currently not available or need enhanced/expanded to meet the needs of employers and industry in specific regions and across the state.
Johnson noted that the RX TN project contains a strong student support prescription component designed to serve students and potential students to prepare for and make good decisions in selecting health care training as well as being successful once they start training to complete and obtain employment. The proposal also contains training prescriptions to address specific occupational training components that are currently not available or need enhanced/expanded to meet the needs of employers and industry in specific regions and across the state.
The U.S. Department of Labor is implementing
and administering the program in coordination with the U.S. Department of
Education. Educational institutions will use these funds to create affordable
training programs that meet industry needs, invest in staff and educational
resources and provide access to free, digital learning materials. All
education materials developed through the grants will be available for use by
the public and other education providers through a Creative Commons license.
These grants emphasize evidence-based program design. Each grantee is required
to collect rigorous student outcome data annually and conduct final evaluations
at the end of the grant period to build knowledge about which strategies are
most effective in placing graduates in jobs.
New Campus for Williamson County Closer to Reality
The College's Office of Advancement and Foundation
leadership are working together to raise $3.64 in match funding for a state
contribution of $36.4 million for a new campus for Williamson County.
Williamson County takes pride in its rich educational
legacy. Across two centuries the county and its communities have recognized the
value of education in creating a solid foundation for continuous growth and
sustainable development. Public and private institutions of learning offer
diverse and comprehensive educational choices, meeting and exceeding the
expectations of Williamson County’s discerning citizens. Our local schools are
consistently recognized as being among the best in the country, giving our
young people a vast advantage as they prepare to enter the workforce or attend
college.
An important component of our educational legacy is
Columbia State Community College. Throughout the four decades that Columbia
State has operated a campus in Franklin, educational opportunities have
expanded, enrollment has increased and thousands of students have earned associates
degrees or completed professional certificate programs. Columbia State has been
proactive in developing courses that address anticipated workforce needs, even
customizing selected Williamson County campus programs for emerging regional
industries, such as entertainment, healthcare and technology. Additionally, the
college’s relationship with area high schools gives college-bound students a
convenient and affordable start through dual enrollment.
Of profound importance to Williamson County is the role
Columbia State plays in economic development by upgrading the skills of our
labor force. The college serves older, non-traditional students, some of whom
are dislocated workers seeking to retrain for a new occupation or veterans
returning from service to our country. Columbia State is highly attuned to the
needs of local businesses, tailoring courses and curricula to the needs of
local industries, often partnering
with specific companies to provide customized job training or develop
cooperative education programs that combine classroom learning and practical
on-the-job experience. The college is positioned to participate with local
government and industrial recruitment in initiatives to attract corporations to
build or expand facilities here and to serve as a third-party training arm to
teach local citizens the skills required by these new employers.
As a result of its increasing educational benefit to
Williamson County, Columbia State’s existing facility is insufficient to meet
growth demands. A new campus for Williamson County is an important
investment in the community's economic future as well as its quality of life.
Funds have been secured for land acquisition and for initial construction with
a required community match.
Columbia State Foundation Honors Anthony Ricketts as Alumnus of the Year
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Tony Ricketts, third from left, was honored recently as Columbia State Community College’s 2012 Alumnus of the Year during a special ceremony at Columbia State’s Maury County campus. Pictured with Ricketts, are Gina Eason of People’s Bank in Clifton; Ricketts' wife, Teresa Ricketts; Columbia State President Dr. Janet Smith; Clifton Campus Director Stephen Milligan; and Columbia State Foundation Executive Director Bethany Lay.
Anthony Ricketts has been
named 2012 Alumnus of the Year by Columbia State Community College, according
to Columbia State President Dr. Janet Smith, who presented the annual award.
A 1982 graduate of Columbia
State with an Associate of Applied Science in Accounting, Ricketts went on to
earn his Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of North Alabama in
Florence, Ala.
“Tony has been an active
member of the Clifton community, having served in civic organizations, local
government and development boards,” said Gina Eason, who nominated Ricketts for
the annual honor.
Ricketts has served his
hometown of Clifton as an alderman and as mayor. He is a member of the Joint
Economic and Community Development Board and is a former president of the Rotary
Club of Clifton.
As a certified public
accountant, his professional achievements include having served as Assistant
Financial Officer for Clifton Manufacturing and Group Controller for Kolpak. He
is currently chief financial officer for The Praxis Companies, having began
there as vice-president of finance. Additionally, Ricketts serves as a
part-time faculty member at Columbia State in the business department.
“He has continued to support
Columbia State by securing a donation from Praxis of a whirlpool tub for the
Clifton Campus Golf Classic for the past eight years,” noted Bethany Lay,
Executive Director of the Columbia State Community College Foundation. “Proceeds
from the golf tournament benefit the Foundation, which provides additional
support to the college for the Clifton campus through scholarships to area
students.”
In receiving the honor,
Ricketts said he continues to be impressed by the impact Columbia State’s
extended campuses have on the region.
“The extended campuses, such
as the one at Clifton, provide the opportunity for a lot of young people to
obtain a college education,” Ricketts observed. “I was fortunate to begin my
education at Columbia State and have been grateful for the chance to support
the college as it serves Clifton and the surrounding communities.”
Clifton Campus Director
Stephen Milligan said that Ricketts is a worthy recipient of the Alumnus of the
Year award.
“Tony is a great example of
what can be accomplished when a person takes advantage of educational
opportunities,” Milligan said. “His ongoing commitment to Columbia State is a
great example to the community and is deeply appreciated by the college.”
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Soroptimist International of Franklin presents a $5,000 check for student scholarships. (Left to Right) Margaret Gurley, president; Bethany Lay, executive for advancement, Columbia State; Barbara Leech, Derby Day chair and past president. |
"The Columbia
State Foundation is pleased to accept these funds on behalf of our students in
Williamson County,” said Bethany Lay, executive for advancement at Columbia
State. “Soroptimist International of Franklin continues to be very generous in
providing scholarship opportunities.”
The Derby Day Fundraiser
was held May 7, 2011 at the Franklin Men’s Club and included the Kentucky Derby
simulcast, as well as food, drinks and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit
women’s scholarships for Columbia State Community College and Bridges Domestic
Violence Center.
Soroptimist
International of Franklin is part of an international organization for business
and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in
local communities and throughout the world. Almost
95,000 Soroptimists around the world contribute time and financial support to
community–based and international projects that benefit women and girls. The
name, “Soroptimist,” means “Best for women,” and the scholarship was
established in October 1987 to help women with dependents whose financial or
family situation makes it challenging to obtain a higher education degree. For
more information about Soroptimist International of Franklin, visit sifranklin.org/.
The Raiser’s Edge helps Foundation Continue Successful Support Programs
The CSCCF receives, manages and distributes scholarship funds, having
awarded more than $10 million since the Foundation's creation in 1971.
In the past three years, more than 600 scholarships were awarded, with an increase
in the quantity and amount expected in the next three years. Advancement staff members Chris Henson and Crystal Keeton are taking leadership roles in implementation of new donor database software called "The Raiser’s Edge," which has been the world’s most popular, most trusted
fundraising solution for more than 20 years. It provides the tools needed to consistently manage constituent relationships and
fundraising processes across the CSCCF. The Raiser’s Edge gives the Columbia State Foundation the to power to utilize traditional and modern methods of
fundraising. Monthly giving, online fundraising and e-marketing
communication tools help implement cutting-edge fundraising
techniques alongside traditionally successful methods.
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