Lackawanna College Receives $25,000 Grant to Help Local High School Students Earn Industry Certifications
Lackawanna College received a grant of $25,000 from the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund for the Alternate Pathways to Graduation program, a pilot program which helps local high school students earn industry certifications while meeting Pennsylvania graduation requirements.
Strengthening College and Career Readiness
The program provides students with alternative routes to graduation by offering industry certification courses meeting Pennsylvania’s Act 158 requirements. Under Pennsylvania’s Act 158, students can meet graduation requirements by either passing standardized tests or demonstrating career readiness through industry certifications.
“The grant from the McGowan Foundation allows Lackawanna College to offer pathways to meet Pennsylvania graduation requirements and provide experience and certifications to transition into college or employment after high school,” said Abbey Judge, Pre-College Programs Director and Title IX Deputy Coordinator. “Eligible students can choose to enroll in college classes or an industry certification program. Initiatives like this not only align with the College’s mission but also strengthen our existing relationships with local school districts.”
Building a Competitive Advantage for Students
The program connects participating high school students with opportunities to complete industry certifications in various fields while earning their high school diploma. Students who complete both requirements gain a competitive advantage whether they choose to pursue higher education or enter the workforce directly after graduation. The program aims to increase high school graduation rates and strengthen the local workforce in Northeast Pennsylvania while providing students with multiple pathways to success after high school.
By removing financial barriers to certification programs, the grant ensures students from all backgrounds can access these career-building opportunities. The McGowan Charitable Fund grant will cover the cost for students to obtain certifications and ensure graduation, strengthening the local community and helping individuals improve their futures through education and career development.
About the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund
The William G. McGowan Charitable Fund has, since its inception, maintained a vision to impact lives, to create sustainable change, and to empower future generations to achieve their greatest potential. The Fund brings that vision to life through grant-making efforts in three program areas: Education, Human Services, and Healthcare. They prioritize programs that have demonstrated success, have measurable outcomes, plans for sustainability, and aim to end cycles of poverty and suffering.
Resolute in the belief in the power of partnerships or collaborative efforts to maximize impact, the Fund embraces opportunities to work with other partners across their key program areas, looking for funding opportunities that share their philosophy and exploring the possibility of joint projects with other nonprofit organizations.
The Fund is managed in accordance with values deeply held by its benefactor, William G. McGowan. Among these are ethical leadership and the belief that every life has equal value.
For more information, please visit https://williamgmcgowanfund.org.
In photo from left to right: Lackawanna College Pre-College Programs Director, Title IX Deputy Coordinator Abbey Judge, Director of Grant Strategies Michelle McGloin, and McGowan Charitable Fund Trustee Leo McGowan.