Ambler Savings Bank recently donated $15,000 through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program to support a new dual enrollment program at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC), as part of the bank’s commitment to giving back to the community.
The donation will fund a new initiative of MCCC’s dual enrollment program, Jump Start to College Success. Jump Start will offer an opportunity for high school students in 10th and 11th grade to take two college courses from July 6 through Aug.13 at MCCC’s Central Campus in Blue Bell. The courses, SCS 101: Strategies for College Success and Psychology 136: Personality, will help provide students with college readiness skills, including time management, financial literacy, study skills, goal setting, communication skills, persistence, critical thinking, and problem-solving, so they are more prepared for college after they graduate from high school. Upon successful completion of the program, students will earn five college credits.
“This program will help students to grow and be successful when they transition to be full-time college students,” said MCCC Director of Dual Enrollment Initiatives Cheryl Taylor-Mearhoff. “For the program, we will work with area school districts that participate in the EITC program to enroll 15 or more students who have financial need.”
“We are excited to partner with a wonderful organization such as MCCC to advance Ambler Savings Bank’s commitment to public education and assisting students in Montgomery County who have a financial need,” said Ambler Savings Bank President and CEO, Roger Zacharia. “The Jump Start program will give these students an advantage towards completing their college education.”
Jump Start to College Success is one of several dual enrollment programs MCCC offers for high school students. Other programs include: The Pottstown High School Early College Program at the MCCC’s West Campus, Positive Directions (an after school dual enrollment program), the Bridge to Employment Program with Wissahickon High School, and the College Pathway Academy (one for Health Care Professions and one for Future Educators) at Phoenixville Area High School.
For the fall 2015 semester, MCCC will offer a new 2+1+2 program for Upper Moreland High School students, in which they will spend two years earning up to 30 credits as dual enrollment students, then one year at MCCC, followed by two years at a four-year institution to complete their bachelor’s degree.
For more information about Montgomery County Community College’s dual enrollment opportunities, contact Cheryl Taylor-Mearhoff at cmearhof@mc3.edu or 610-718-1953.
