WHCC works with Science Foundation of Arizona to compete for grants

As one of only six community colleges in the country to partner with the Science Foundation of Arizona, West Hills College Coalinga is aiming to help strengthen its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, career paths and supportive services.

Through the foundation’s KickStarter Program, community colleges position themselves to compete for grant funding from the National Science Foundation. A team from the foundation recently came to WHCC for a two-day campus visit and planning session to discuss the project.

“It’s an honor to have been chosen out of the 200-plus community colleges for this,” said Anita Wright, WHCCD director of grants. “NSF grants are very difficult to earn and they provide great educational resource opportunities for our students and would enrich our student’s learning experience deeply.”

Over the next three years, WHCC will produce two grant proposals, hoping to expand agriculture technology and agriculture science programs offered through the Farm of the Future as well as outreach programs such as the Wonderful Education Agriculture Career Camp, which WHCC offers to middle-school students.

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 6:58 PM with the headline "WHCC works with Science Foundation of Arizona to compete for grants."