Photo caption: CSI president Kirk Ilenda presents a check to Dr. Kathleen Nelson, LSC’s president, and Paul Damberg, LSC Foundation director.

President Kirk Ilenda, Construction Specifications Institute – Twin Ports Chapter, recently presented the Lake Superior College (LSC) Foundation with a check for $2,500. The donation will add to the Construction Specifications Institute Scholarship Fund, an endowed fund that provides scholarships for LSC students enrolled in architectural drafting, building construction, commercial and residential wiring and computer-aided design engineering.

The Construction Specifications Institute is an organization made up of design professionals, contractors and suppliers. Its primary goal is improved communication regarding design documents. The organization established the scholarship fund in 2000 and has made contributions to it every year since. During that time, the fund has grown to more than $25,000.

“The Construction Specifications Institute has made a long-term commitment to support our student scholarship program,” LSC president Kathleen Nelson explained. “We are grateful for their ongoing support.”

The Lake Superior College Foundation’s mission is to support the educational, cultural and service goals of Lake Superior College by acting as its designated friend and fund-raiser. Additional information about the LSC Foundation is available at www.lsc.edu/foundation.

SOAR Career Solutions, Lake Superior College and the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) will lead the two-year training collaboration with funding from a $139,975 Low Income Worker Training Program grant. Created in 2005, the Low Income Training Program covers the cost of training for ‘training-ready’ individuals with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line.

Lake Superior College will offer courses in introduction to manufacturing technology, basic machine operator and fast track welding as certificate programs that allow flexibility in scheduling, smaller class sizes and more hands-on learning.

Training initiatives funded by this program are flexible and responsive to changes in business and economic conditions,? said Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner and MJSP Board Chair Dan McElroy. “Manufacturing and industrial sewing are doing well in Duluth and local businesses have indicated to us that they need employees with these skills.”

In attendance at the formal grant signing ceremony were (left to right) Paul Moe, Director of the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership; Rebecca Ellenson, Executive Director SOAR Career Solutions; Kathleen Nelson, President of Lake Superior College; and Duluth Mayor Don Ness.

The MJSP offers technical, financial and job training assistance to businesses, communities, educational institutions and workers. The board brings businesses with specific education needs together with educational institutions to design customized training programs.

For more information of the grant contact Steve Wagner, Vice President of Workforce and Community Development, Lake Superior College, 218 733-5934, s.wagner@lsc.edu.

“We serve an average of 50 high school students each year who meet the eligibility criteria for our program,”? said Jeannette Turchi, LSC program director. “We are grateful for the additional state funding. It will be used to provide weekly tutoring for all participants, career exploration, and to help defray the costs for a summer enrichment program which is open to all participants.”?

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,100 students enrolled this fall semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also the leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.