Fayetteville Technical Community College receives $3,500 grant from Duke Energy

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — The Fayetteville Technical Community College Foundation has received a $3,500 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation.

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The grant, made on the behalf of Piedmont Natural Gas, will help refurbish the YES (You + Effort = Success) Student Center at the Horace Sisk Building on the Fayetteville Tech campus, according to college officials.

According to college officials, the YES Student Center helps students graduate and prepare for jobs or more education by supporting them academically, personally, and career-wise.

Officials said the grant is part of $1 million in local grants awarded by Piedmont Natural Gas to 39 organizations in communities served by the company.

“The YES Student Center serves as a hub for student connection, development and  success, providing resources and opportunities that complement students’ classroom experiences,” FTCC Vice President for Academic Support Services and Civic Engagement Desandra Washington said in a statement.

“Through the FTCC Buddy Program, students are connected with faculty and staff mentors who provide encouragement, guidance and an additional point of connection to the college,” Washington continued in her statement. “YES also provides academic success support and early intervention to help students address academic challenges and remain on track toward completing their educational goals.”

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Fayetteville Tech student Zion Lang said in a statement, “The grant from Duke Energy is making a meaningful difference in the YES space. As someone who regularly tutors other students, I’m especially excited about the  new interactive whiteboard because it will make tutoring more engaging.

“With the improvements being made, the space is becoming more functional, welcoming and 
conducive to study, collaboration, and relaxation,” he continued in his statement. “I’m excited not only to benefit from these improvements myself, but to have a space where I can continue helping other students succeed.”

Said Fayetteville Tech Senior Director of Support Services Richard McDonald in a statement, “The Duke Energy Foundation grant on behalf of Piedmont Natural Gas will help us enhance the quality of support and services we provide to students through the YES Initiative, while also serving as a tangible reminder that their success matters and that there is a community committed to helping them achieve their goals.

“By creating a more functional and student-centered environment, we will be better equipped to provide individualized academic support, mentoring, engagement opportunities, and programming that respond to their needs. These enhancements represent an investment not only in the Y.E.S. Student Center, but in the students we have the privilege of serving at FTCC,” he said in his statement.

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