Central Community College receives millions of dollars to help students

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - Big help is on the way for some Central Community College-Hastings students, that help is coming in the form of a six million dollar donation from the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation.

It will go toward college expenses for about 50 students each year. It’s not just tuition the money will cover, it’s also going towards expenses like room and board. The scholarship will apply to students in the following fields:

• Advanced manufacturing design technology
• Auto body technology
• Automotive technology
• Construction technology
• Diesel technology
• Drafting and design technology
• Electrical technology
• Energy technology
• Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration
• Heavy equipment operator technician
• Welding technology

Associate Dean of Skilled Technology Alison Feeney said she hopes this will help relieve some of the students’ worries.

“They don’t have to make that choice of living on campus or getting an education is right for them, we’re going to provide that for them,” Allison Feeney said. “Take that stress off of them and eventually give them the supports that they need during their entire four semesters to be able to get out there in the workforce and help out that need.”

The CCC Hastings Campus President Christopher Waddle said the money only helps to further the mission of the college.

“One of the most exciting things about working on this campus is our connection to industry in our communities in our 25 county service area,” Dr. Christopher Waddle said. “Anytime we can provide more workforce out there and also help to make that a pathway where again they are not walking out with a lot of debt, it’s one of the most exciting things we do on this campus.”

The first of the awards are set to go to 25 students in January of 2023, and then the next ones will go out in August to 25 more.

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