92 Western Avenue
Fairfield, ME 04937-1367




FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT                                                                                                                                          For more information contact:

March 22, 2006                                                                                                                                                                          Erica Humphrey,
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Public Relations, KVCC
                                                                                                                                                                                                   (207) 453-5157
                                                                                                                                                                                                   ehumphrey@kvcc.me.edu

KVCC Foundation Receives Grant
from Bangor Savings Bank Foundation

FAIRFIELD – The Kennebec Valley Community College Foundation (KVCC Foundation) in Fairfield is the recipient of a $2,500 grant from the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation. The grant supports two successful collaborative programs serving adult-aged learners and qualified high-school students in Kennebec and Somerset counties.

“Bangor Savings’ generous support will allow the College and its partners to increase access to a college education”, said Barbara Woodlee, President of KVCC. “We are very thankful.”

First Steps is an eight-week program that helps adults overcome the initial barriers to college attendance. The program was developed by Kennebec Valley Community College in partnership with MSAD 49 Adult Education in Fairfield and the Maine Educational Opportunity Center in Orono. Program partners provide the academic advising, basic skills training, and career counseling and coaching necessary to help adult-age students to prepare and enroll in higher education.

The Health Career Options Project (HCOP) provides an affordable and supportive pathway for Somerset County residents to enter health care related programs at Kennebec Valley Community College. Partners in designing and implementing this program include the Somerset CareerCenter, the Skowhegan Adult Education program and Redington-Fairview General Hospital.

First Steps and HCOP seek to strengthen our communities through preparing residents for highly-skilled jobs, through raising the post-secondary attainment rate, and through helping health care providers meet critical workforce needs.

To find out more about these programs, please contact Kate Grambow, First Steps Coordinator, at 453-5155 or kgrambow@kvcc.me.edu.

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