OCTC Foundation receives $25,000 donation from Domtar Hawesville Operation supporting student success

by Katie Powers

Owensboro, KY (03/07/2022) — The Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) Foundation, Inc. received a donation of $25,000 from the Domtar Hawesville Mill. It is 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 (ELOs). 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.

The commitment to student success and support of continuous growth as students work towards their education and career goals is what drives local organizations like the Domtar Hawesville Mill to contribute to the OCTC Foundation, Inc.

"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, 2022, representatives from the Domtar Hawesville Mill met with representatives from OCTC at the OCTC Hancock County Center in Lewisport, KY for the donation check presentation. Many of the services offered through the Experiential Learning Center take place at this facility.

Domtar Hawesville Mill Manager, Murray Hewitt said, "Our mill is only successful through the efforts of our team members. We must reinvest in our employees as well as support the development of future employees. We value our relationship with OCTC -this facility [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."

Chair of Hancock County Industrial Foundation, Mike Baker added, "OCTC is creating and offering the curriculum to prepare our young men and women of Hancock County to join the workforce in their own community."

In attendance for the check presentation were the following community leaders: 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, Scott Williams, PhD; OCTC Foundation Executive Director and Chief Institutional Officer for OCTC, Mike Rodgers; and OCTC Instructor, Leon Mills.

*Please, email katie.powers@kctcs.edu for a photo of this check presentation.