MCC receives state and federal grants

MCC has been awarded two grants totaling about $90,000.

One grant, from the Missouri Department of Higher Education in the amount of $25,000, is focused on default prevention. The funding will partially cover the salary and benefits of the district's default prevention coordinator who supports students throughout the lifecycle of their student loans. The grant, which runs from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012, is expected to positively impact MCC’s U.S. Department of Education cohort default rate.

Another grant, from the U.S. Health and Human Resources and Services Administration in the amount of $64,114, will provide scholarships for students in need. The scholarship funds will be granted directly to economically or educationally disadvantaged nursing students at the MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute. Economic need is determined based on the U.S. Health and Human Services poverty table; educational need is based on factors such as being a first generation college student or a recent GED completer or having attended a high school with a low graduation rate. The grant period is July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012 with possible annual renewals.

Student environmental initiative goes pro, seeks funding

Morgan Brown is an MCC-Blue River scholar who likes to keep it green. She has been developing an organization called Timberbred which is dedicated to providing environmental information to the public and eventually starting a fund to protect Mangroves, an important and quickly depleting part of the global ecosystem.

Mangrove trees and the swamps and forests that they support are nesting grounds for hundreds of species of birds. Their treetops make homes for monkeys and eagles. Around their midsections live monitor lizards and fishing cats. Among their stilted, water-bound roots live manatees, turtles, and fish. Mangroves even provide shelter to endangered species, such as bald eagles, American crocodiles, and hawksbill turtles.

The MCC Insider asked Timberbred founder Morgan Brown a few questions about the state of the environment and what

Join Team MCC for Earth Walk 2011

Join the fun at the 15th annual EarthWalk and do your part to help move Kansas City toward a more sustainable future. Enjoy a nearly 3-mile non-competitive walk along Brush Creek from Theis Park west toward the Plaza and back.

Nixon press conference scheduled at MCC-Penn Valley

MCC-Penn Valley will welcome Governor Nixon on Tuesday morning, Sept.14 for a press conference to announce a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce: National Telecommunications and Information Administration and specifically the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).


MCC should receive aproximately $2.1 million that would fund five stationary public computer centers for the community and students and one mobile center. This grant will also enable MCC to re-open the community computer lab at Pioneer.


The press conference will be held at MCC-Penn Valley in the Humanities building, room 103 at 9:45 a.m.