GALESBURG, Ill. — One local college is receiving more than $200,000 and will use the money to make improvements to two of its programs.
The Illinois Community College Board, or ICCB, allocated grants to 55 organizations throughout the state, 36 of which were community colleges. The grants totaled more than $9 million.
Galesburg's Carl Sandburg College received $235,651 from the ICCB. The school said it's planning on putting that money towards its automotive technology and nursing programs.
"We were beyond thrilled when we found out we were recipients of this grant," Dean of Career Technical Education Ellen Burns said. "We couldn't have asked for better timing whatsoever."
The school's automotive program plans on adding some equipment to its arsenal for better student learning.
"We can update our equipment to more closely replicate what they're going to see when they get into a dealership environment," auto tech instructor Mike Hagedorn said.
Hagedorn said the hope for students is to better prepare them for the real world.
"I always stress to our students is; you never stop learning," Hagedorn said.
The nursing program also plans on getting more equipment, specifically, for student simulations.
"We want to have 25% of our clinical and simulation lab," College of Nursing Dean Emily Schaeffer said. "And this is really going to allow us to do that."
The goal for nursing students is the same; wanting to prepare them for the real world.
"What we are doing here is workforce learning," Schaeffer said. "We are getting those students ready for the workforce."
The school said it's not sure how much of the $235,651 each program will get. In the spring of 2023, the automotive program will be moved into a new building on campus.
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