Pierce College News

ORTING — A perfect day of light breezes and warm sunshine welcomed a packed field of 129 golfers at High Cedars Golf Club on Aug. 12 for the 17th Annual Pierce College Scholarship Scramble. This year’s event raised nearly $43,000 for student scholarships, enough to pay for 56 quarters of education for deserving students at Pierce College in 2010-11.

“There’s no denying that the Scholarship Scramble is a lot of fun. Our golfers get to play a great course and spend a gorgeous day outside, playing games and having a fantastic time. But, it’s so much more than that,” said Suzy Ames, executive director of the Pierce College Foundation, which hosts the annual golf scramble. “Supporting the scramble means supporting the hard work of Pierce College students and that’s a really satisfying experience in itself. That’s why players come back year after year.”

This year’s notable teams included former Foundation board member John Collins and his wife Becki, a former vice-president of administrative services at Pierce College, and Ron and Gina Eaton, which won the Mixed Division, and the team led by Pierce College science professor Tom Bush and the members of his reunited high school golf team from the 1970s, which posted the lowest score for teams with handicaps of 14 or lower.

Waste Connections, of Tacoma, was the title sponsor for the sixth straight year. More than 75 students, employees, and Foundation board members volunteered their time to manage the event.

Following the day of golf, live and silent auctions were held to raise additional funds for the Pierce College Foundation’s many scholarship opportunities. Over the scramble’s 17 years, it has raised more than $500,000 for students.

For more information on the Pierce College Foundation and its scholarship offerings, call (253) 864-3261.

Pierce College was recently awarded a five-year, $1.2 million grant from the Department of Education to continue the TRIO Student Support Services program at the Fort Steilacoom campus. This grant was especially competitive as the Department of Education reduced the total number of projects by 40 for this award cycle.

Since 2001, the TRIO SSS program has provided academic and personal support to 160 first-generation, low-income and/or disabled students each year, helping them navigate higher education. This new grant will allow Pierce College to continue offering this critical service to students for an additional five years. The TRIO SSS program works with students who have traditionally struggled to be successful in post-secondary education and helps them to reach their academic goals.

“The continued funding of Pierce College demonstrates the importance of this program and validates the hard work of Pierce College staff and faculty in helping students to be successful,” said Joelle Pretty, Pierce College’s TRIO director. “Many TRIO students need extra help when they first come to Pierce College because their math and English skills are below college level. Because of this grant, 160 individuals who might get discouraged early in their education are given the support and encouragement to thrive.”

The TRIO SSS program provides structured events and activities plus college-level courses that help students develop study skills, identify and maximize their learning styles, set goals, and build personal resources for success. Comprehensive, early assessment and ongoing interaction with advisors give students effective, personal educational plans that incorporate their long-term goals.

For more information on the TRIO program at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, visit the program website at www.pierce.ctc.edu/dist/supportservices/trio or call (253) 912-3644.

In keeping its commitment to provide quality education and support services to its growing veteran student population, Pierce College is seeking the help of a federal grant to raise the level of services even higher.

Pierce College applied to the federal Department of Education for a three-year, $364,000 grant for the development of a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom. This center would provide veteran students a designated space to gather and learn, a person to help with one-on-one attention, and services to help them be successful in higher education and transition into civilian life.

Pierce College serves a large number of veteran students. Last year, the Fort Steilacoom campus alone served 1,084 veteran students.

“The center would provide Pierce College the opportunity to give back to veteran students who have given so much to their country by supporting their educational dreams,” said Carol Green, vice president of learning and student success at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom.

Pierce College anticipates the center would provide veterans with dedicated tutors, small-group instruction groups in critical courses, and evening and weekend study tables staffed with additional math and writing tutors. The grant would also provide veterans with directed funds for child care and transportation assistance, as well as other emergency needs, including housing assistance. Pierce College faculty and staff would be specially trained to increase their knowledge of the effects of war zone stressors and the complex needs of veterans.

Grant awards are expected to be announced in September. If Pierce is named a recipient, the center could be in the works as early as October.