WORCESTER – Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) announced a grant award of $675,000 on Monday from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The three-year funding will support QCC’s Future Focus program, which assists adult learners transitioning from adult basic education programs.
Gilmarie Vongphakdy, the Coordinator of the Future Focus Program, said, “many of our students are parents, work full-time, or have never used English in a college setting. This grant will also enable us to expand our course offerings from five to eight and offer laptop loans, addressing the technological barriers many of our students face.”
Adwoa Koduah, of Worcester, has four children and works at a senior living facility. She said it was intimidating to go back to school and be around younger people. “Future Focus has been a tremendous help. The first step is always the hardest, but it’s so worth it,” she said.
Benedicta Boateng, another student of the program, recalled feeling too old to go to college.
“At a point I nearly gave up. I was struggling with a class, but through Gilmarie’s encouragement, I passed my class. Future Focus gave me the confidence that no matter my age, with determination I can further my education,” Boateng said.
The Future Focus initiative brings adult learners to QCC and offers extensive academic and college readiness support to boost retention. It also provides college credit courses free of charge, including tuition, books, supplies, and transportation, if required.
Image Credit: John Phelan, Harrington Learning Center, Quinsigamond Community College, Greendale MA, CC BY-SA 3.0
