SIC receives $10,000 grant

The South Irving Center of North Lake College has received its second $10,000 grant from Verizon for a computer training scholarship program.

This scholarship will cover tuition and the use of textbooks.

Linda Pannell, manager of external affairs for Verizon (and a former NLC graduate), presented the grant to Dr. Linda Glasscock, North Lake president, and Rene Castilla, executive dean of continuing education and director of the South Irving Center.

The Business Office Support Specialist program (BOSS) was designed to help low to moderate income students receive 120 hours of basic computer skills, such as keyboarding, introduction to PC, introduction to Internet/e-mail, Windows XP, Microsoft Word XP and Microsoft Excel XP. In addition, the program also provides Friday seminars and field trips which help students with their self-confidence, interviews, job searches, safety and time management in the work environment.

“The program is a good opportunity for the Spanish-speaking people,” said Alta Alvear, a BOSS program student. “We don’t pay anything and we’re thankful to Verizon, North Lake College and to all the people that work together to put this program for us,” she said.

Mary Hernadez, another student in the Spring 2005 session said, “Being in this program will help me find a job, because I am better equipped with basic computer skills to find a job.”

To be eligible to participate in the BOSS program, students must be 18 years old or older, fluent in English (Level 4 ESOL). They must attend class every day for eight weeks from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The next session for the BOSS program will be from June 6 to July 29.

The instructor, Pat Blanton, said, “This is an intensive eight-week training program that covers a lot more then just how to use the computer. Come over and check it out. I have seen people’s lives change, and that is my biggest reward.”

To be placed on the waiting list to be evaluated for this program, contact Rocio Garcia at the South Irving Center (972-860-7863).