Crestwood High School graduate and Opportunity Scholar finds career match in Auto Tech program
Thursday, February 28, 2019
NICC DISTRICT—Ambitious with clear academic and career goals in mind, a group of 25 recent high school graduates in northeast Iowa are members of the first cohort of Opportunity Scholarships recipients selected this year.
The Northeast Iowa Community College Opportunity Scholarship awards $1,000 to one nominated senior from 28 area high schools. Student recipients have a demonstrated passion and interest for a career and technical program, or transferable degree, at NICC. The students selected the College as the first place to begin their postsecondary education.
The students are now enrolled at Northeast Iowa Community College and beginning their second semester.
Alex Ruroden, a 2018 Crestwood High School graduate, is one Opportunity Scholar who found the perfect career match in the College's Automotive Technology program at the Calmar campus.
"I've learned things in the Northeast Iowa Community College Automotive Technology program that I never knew, like ABS systems and electronics in cars. I am thrilled to have received the Opportunity Scholarship! More students should know about it and go to NICC," Ruroden expressed.
In academic year 2018-2019, the College awarded a total of $24,000 in Opportunity Scholarships, according to Wendy Mihm-Herold, Ph.D., NICC vice president of business and community solutions.
“Northeast Iowa Community College is proud of each of our Opportunity Scholarship recipients this academic year. We are honored that these ambitious students, like Alex, have selected NICC as their first choice to start their college journey and build the foundation of a successful career. By working closely with our Success Coaches and academic advisors, these students are charting their future course, and the College is excited to have the opportunity to work with them,” said Mihm-Herold.
The NICC Cresco Center is an invaluable resource for students as they enroll in college credit courses and explore potential careers. The center is convenient for students by offering access to online and face-to-face college credit courses, admissions information, course registration, placement testing, financial aid assistance and academic advising. Success Coaches at the center provide the one-on-one attention students may need to help guide their career path and to select the NICC program most suited for their goals, says Cassie Lichty, center director.
“The Opportunity Scholarship is a great way for Northeast Iowa Community College to support students who are driven to achieve their goals. Not only do recipients receive financial assistance, but they also have access to Success Coaches who work closely with students and can customize an academic plan to their objectives, whether these include training for an in-demand career or earning the credits they need to transfer to a four-year college or university,” said Lichty.
Concurrent enrollment agreements between the College and high schools in northeast Iowa support students’ future academic and career goals. From 2017-2018, the Cresco Center served 125 high school students who enrolled in 807.5 college credits. Howard County high school students and their families saved an estimated $431,302 in college tuition through concurrent enrollment at the center.
For more information on services offered through the NICC Cresco Center, visit www.nicc.edu/cresco or contact Lichty at (563) 547-3355, ext. 3.