MCC now offers scholarships for vocational training

McHenry County College students living in Cary and Fox River Grove can apply for a new scholarship for noncredit vocational training classes through a program established by the Rotary Club of Cary-Grove.

MCC offers numerous scholarships for students taking credit-bearing courses. This is the first scholarship available to students taking workforce or professional training classes.

The $5,000 funding for the scholarship came from the late Tom Decker, a founding member of the Rotary Club of Cary-Grove who set up an endowment for scholarships. Decker, who died at age 91 in November 2017, was a contractor-developer who donated the land and built the Thomas C. Decker Cary Area Public Library.

"With this scholarship, we try to meet the needs of people who cannot afford to take a career training class," said Rotarian Susan Maifield, formerly executive dean of human and public service at MCC.

Two scholarship recipients already have been selected for the spring semester.

"It's really helpful to me, because I have two siblings in college," said Calisa Medansky, 19, of Fox River Grove, who received $750 toward the $2,499 tuition for a 16-week veterinary assistant training class offered by MCC's Workforce Training and Professional Programs. "Financially, I wouldn't have been able to afford it without the scholarship. I am now able to complete the program and pursue something that I love - working with animals."

The Rotary Club of Cary-Grove supports other community programs with Decker's funding, including awarding $18,000 in scholarships each year to six graduating seniors from Cary-Grove High School.

The club also supports three nonprofit groups each year. This year's beneficiaries are Home of the Sparrow, Cary-Grove Food Pantry and the Fox River Grove Memorial Library.

For more information about the scholarship or other scholarships offered by MCC, contact the Friends of MCC Foundation at (815) 455-8721.