Publish Date: Jul 19, 2017
Hartnell Received $250,000 Grant
Funding to Build a Makerspace Community
SALINAS, Calif. – We are happy to announce that Hartnell College was one of 24 colleges to receive a CCC Maker Implementation Grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to build an inclusive makerspace community, provide internships, embed making into curriculum and prepare students with STEAM skills to succeed in the innovation economy.
The Chancellor’s Office awarded Hartnell College $250,000, renewable for a second year, through a competitive process to create an inclusive makerspace community, provide internships, and develop curriculum to prepare students with innovation and entrepreneurial skills to thrive in the regional economy.
To develop a makerspace proposal, Hartnell College has identified ecosystem partners, gone through a design thinking process to plan a makerspace, conducted student activities to assess student interest and engaged faculty in the CCC Maker Initiative, according to Superintendent/President, Dr. Willard Lewallen. “The makerspace will enhance the student experience and will be central to developing connections with industry partners, securing real world work experiences, developing hands-on skills and supporting a culture of innovation,” said Dr. Lewallen.
“This grant will serve to empower college and community members to harness their potential and to innovate,” said Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Celine Pinet who worked with K-12 STEM staff Director Maggie Melone and Claudia Contreras, in addition to Faculty Lesha Rodriguez. “It will provide a space where users can research and explore solutions to address local and global challenges.”
“Makerspace community members collaborate and teach other enabling students, faculty and business owners to interact in ways not possible in the classroom, enriching students’ education,” said Carol Pepper-Kittredge, CCC Maker Statewide Project Manager. “Faculty members are discovering how making, entrepreneurship, and projects for social good can be incorporated into their teaching. Students benefit from freely exploring their interests while learning to use laser cutters, art supplies, electronics labs, sewing machines, milling machines and many other creative tools.”
“Our students will be placed in internships, faculty will develop curriculum that prepares students with 21st Century skills, our campus will create a makerspace community, and we will benefit from learning from others in the statewide network of college makerspaces,” said Dr. Lewallen. Hartnell will develop an innovative education model, thus students will be better prepared to work in our regional economy.
The vision of the statewide initiative is to drive innovation in education and prepare California Community College students for success in STEM/STEAM careers that demand 21st Century skills. Through the CCC Maker initiative, colleges engage with businesses in new ways, students are inspired by learning by doing, career skills are incorporated into education, students develop interests in emerging technologies and community colleges contribute to a thriving statewide economy. Learn more about CCC Maker at http://cccmaker.com/ .
Hartnell Community College District – established in 1920
The Hartnell CCD serves over 17,000 students annually through its main campus in Salinas, the Alisal Campus in East Salinas, the King City Education Center, and various outreach learning centers throughout the Salinas Valley. Hartnell College, a Hispanic Serving Institution, provides workforce training, basic skills courses, and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Hartnell College is recognized for its innovative public and private partnerships that support world class STEM education, career technical education, fine and performing arts, humanities, and athletics. We are proud to be the winners of the Innovation Award for CSin3 – a Computer Science degree in three years. We are growing leaders through opportunity, engagement, and achievement. For more about Hartnell CCD, visit www.hartnell.edu .
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