The Owensboro Community and Technical College Foundation, Inc. recently received a $25,000 donation from the Domtar Hawesville Mill in a support of student success and workforce development.
The funds are a contribution to the Title III E3@OCTC Workforce Investment Endowment, which supports workforce development and provides experiential learning opportunities through the Experiential Learning Center (ELC) serving students currently enrolled at OCTC.
The ELC offers services for students in the form of internship and apprenticeship placement, offering mentorship opportunities, and facilitating course embedded Experiential Learning Opportunities. They offer a variety of programs, workshops, training, and webinars to help students and faculty. Student programs are focused on career exploration and employer research, success strategies, financial literacy, resume development and improvement, interview skills, networking, and job search.
“We are so grateful for our partnership with the Domtar Hawesville Mill and we’re really excited for the opportunities their support will offer to the students through the Experiential Learning Center,” said Mike Rodgers, OCTC Foundation Executive Director and Chief Institutional Officer for OCTC.
On Mar. 1, representatives from the Domtar Hawesville Mill met with representatives from OCTC at the OCTC Hancock County Center in Lewisport for the donation check presentation. Many of the services offered through the Experiential Learning Center take place at this facility.
“Our mill is only successful through the efforts of our team members,” said Domtar Hawesville Mill Manager Murray Hewitt. “We must reinvest in our employees as well as support the development of future employees. We value our relationship with OCTC. [OCTC’s Hancock County Center] feels like an extension of our mill to support advancing our team members while also staying focused on developing local individuals for future hire.”
In attendance for the check presentation were OCTC Foundation Representative and Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson; Chair of Hancock County Industrial Foundation Mike Baker; Hancock County Judge-Executive Johnny Roberts; Domtar Hawesville Mill Manager Murray Hewitt; Domtar Hawesville Mill Maintenance Manager Terry Hall; Domtar Hawesville Mill Human Resources Manager Jason Curry; OCTC President Dr. Scott Williams; OCTC Foundation Executive Director and Chief Institutional Officer for OCTC Mike Rodgers; and OCTC Instructor Leon Mills.
