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College sports, CTC building and Capital Campaign discussed

 Funding for sports programs on campus is being tossed around like a ping-pong ball.

The Board of Trustees gathered on Tuesday, May 21 to discuss the proposed budget as well as for their regularly scheduled meeting.

 The subject of sports was raised in the meeting.

“I like to think of sports as part of a millage campaign,” Trustee Dr. Jim DeVries said.

If a sports program at MCCC was to become a reality, calling a vote and charging a small fee in the community would be a possible idea.

Board Chairman Bill Bacarella said Monroe County is a large sports community and would benefit from such programs.

After discussing what may be on the budget for next year, the next meeting commenced.

Three MCCC students from MCCC Club Volleyball, a student sports group at the college, stood to speak before the board.

According to the club’s website, the group meets two times a week and has played with a local women’s league here in Monroe. They have also participated in regional community college and university matches.

Club Volleyball President/ Captain Tia Keeler, thanked the Board for their support.

“We’re asking for a little more support. We just don’t have as much as we need,” the second year student said.

 “We really feel sports itself are for students. There are more than just academics,” Taylor Cole, club and first year student member said.

Taylor said that the club not only manages volleyball, but teaches how to manage their lives in college.

 Club Volleyball Head Coach, Elizabeth Terrasi, explained why the club is seeking more funding.

When students come to practice, it isn’t more serious as they thought it would be. As the coach it’s very discouraging, she said.

“How can we be legitimate when we don’t have the finances?” she said after the meeting.

 “I feel the school and players feed off of each other so much.”

 Chairman of the Trustees, Bill Bacarella, mentioned to the group that seeking funding at The Foundation of MCCC may be helpful. The Foundation is a philanthropic organization established at MCCC. Each year, the organization offers grants to student and faculty projects.

Other developments in the Board of Trustees meeting:

·         ——The new Career Technology Center is almost finished.

“Furniture is delivered and installed. Landscape work is progressing. May 31 is the target date for substantial completion,” Suzanne Wetzel, Executive Director of The Foundation, said while reading the CTC report.

·        —- MCCC received an award for being a military friendly school.

“A lot of services are going to be available for the vets on campus,” MCCC President David Nixon said.

·       —–  Joshua Myers, Coordinator of the Capital Campaign, read the recent report on its progress. The Capital Campaign is a fundraiser used to collect funds for the new Career Technology Center.

        “171 donors have given or pledged in the Capital Campaign,” he said.

       So far, 1,899,910.55 has been raised.

        The campaign wraps up this Friday.