WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION

College institutional enrichment - see schedule ocollege institutional enrichment:in addition to critical support of scholarships, the foundation funded significant programmatic activities including:*viking roads (resources for obtaining associate degrees and success) removes impediments to graduation by providing tuition support, transportation funding, book stipend, and mandatory counseling. A recent study published by the academic research group mdrc demonstrated that students participating in viking roads graduated at a rate 12% higher than a control group. *jpmorgan chase foundation's $400,000 two-year grant continued into a second year to develop short-term workforce programs at the college's yonkers and mount vernon extension centers.*national council for workforce education provided $150,000 for the third year of a three-year $450,000 grant to support financial wellness education campus wide.*center of excellence in cybersecurity opened new labs, classrooms, administrative spaces for this program designated by the national security agency and u.s. Department of homeland security as a national center of excellence in cyber defense.*simulated hospital lab, which will provide state-of-the-art training for students in a wide range of medical fields including nursing and emt, began construction.*the honors college graduated its sixth cohort, with one student receiving the prestigious jack kent cooke foundation undergraduate transfer scholarship. Con edison bright futures program continued its partnership of nearly 30 years, opening doors to students for careers in sustainable energy. *the native plant center teaches sustainable gardening to suny wcc students as well as community-wide learners, which include home gardeners, landscape professionals, municipal planners, land managers, environmental/gardening groups, and individuals throughout the tri-state area. Founded in 1998 as the first affiliate of the lady bird johnson wildflower center in austin, texas, the native plant center provides resources for environmental study; presents classes on sustainable gardening native plant identification, and ecological processes; hosts landscape conferences on timely environmental topics (i.e. Climate change, wildlife habitats, sustainable maintenance) that target professional audiences; presents to local, regional, and statewide community groups; gives tours of the native plant center teaching gardens; holds an annual sale of thousands of native plants; engages community involvement in the gardens through volunteer work days; and partners with other organizations and government agencies to promote and teach about the use of native plants.