TRAIN grant fuels opportunity for STCC students during STEM Week

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – During Massachusetts STEM Week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced approximately $1.5 million in Training Resources and Internships Network (TRAIN) grants to provide essential training opportunities for more than 500 unemployed and underemployed residents across Massachusetts.

The announcement on Oct. 22 took place at Springfield Technical Community College, one of 13 public community colleges receiving TRAIN funding. STCC was awarded $150,000 to support its Certified Nursing Assistant Plus program, which provides students with hands-on experience and the skills needed to enter the healthcare workforce.

Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega came to campus to announce the funds and also toured the Energy Systems building, where they observed a Heat Pump class, and then visited the Progressive Care Unit in the SIMS Center, which features state-of-the-art simulators.

The TRAIN grants are part of the state’s ongoing commitment to align education and workforce development, ensuring adult learners have pathways into high-demand careers. This year’s STEM Week, themed “STEM Starts Now,” emphasizes that learning and opportunity in STEM fields are available at any age, from young students to adult learners seeking new careers.

STEM has showed me that it is never too late to start over, to learn something new, and to build a better future, not just for ourselves, but for the world around us. Ghabriel Dejesus, STCC student

"As the community college in Massachusetts with two middle names, we are honored to help highlight investments in STEM and workforce. At STCC, we know there is a lot of STEM in healthcare, and our $150,000 in grant funds for Certified Nursing Assistant Plus will expand access to careers in a vital sector. By connecting skill development with industry-recognized credentials, STCC and our sister community colleges showcase our contributions to the economic vitality in every corner of the Commonwealth," said STCC President John B. Cook.

For many STCC students, programs supported by TRAIN grants have been life-changing.

Lovetta Fahnbulleh, a first-year student in STCC’s Health Science program, discovered her path through the CNA program.

“I emigrated from Liberia two years ago, and my journey into STEM began when I joined the Certified Nursing Assistant program at STCC, which was funded by the TRAIN Grant,” Fahnbulleh said at the announcement ceremony. “That opportunity opened the door for me to explore healthcare, gain hands-on experience and obtain the necessary credentials to find employment in my community as a Home Health Aide.”

Her interest in healthcare grew from caring for her grandmother after knee surgery.

“That inspired me to think about a career in rehabilitation and elder care, despite the challenges of taking care of someone who wasn’t always the easiest patient,” she said. “I learned patience and the ability to go with the flow.”

Through the Workforce CNA Training program, Fahnbulleh developed crucial skills in teamwork and problem-solving that she believes will serve her well as she pursues her ultimate goal of becoming a registered nurse.

“To those considering a similar path: know that there is so much out there for you to explore,” she said. “Believe in yourself. With hard work and the right mindset, you can achieve your goals.”

For STCC student Ghabriel Dejesus, STEM Week is also a reminder of how dramatically life can change with the right support and opportunity.

“For about seven years, I worked as a truck driver,” Dejesus said. “I was good at my job, but I never really felt satisfied. One day, I woke up and realized I needed a change. I wanted to do something that challenged me and helped me grow.”

He had always been interested in technology but felt nervous about starting over without formal experience. STCC’s workforce development programs helped him build confidence and skills.

“I started with the workforce development program and the pathway to cybersecurity, where I learned the basics of cybersecurity and earned my CompTIA Tech and A+ certifications,” he said. “That experience sparked something in me, and I wanted to go deeper.”

Today, Dejesus is enrolled in STCC’s Computer Information Technology program, where he is gaining hands-on experience with network building, Python coding, and tools like Wireshark.

“STEM has showed me that it is never too late to start over, to learn something new, and to build a better future, not just for ourselves, but for the world around us,” he said. “If I can make a change and find my place in STEM, you can too.”

The TRAIN grant announcement at STCC underscores the state’s investment in programs that help people like Fahnbulleh and Dejesus transform their lives through education and training.

“We know that education doesn’t stop at high school graduation –  it’s a lifelong pathway,” said Tutwiler. “Through programs like TRAIN, we’re connecting learning to purpose and helping adult learners develop the skills that Massachusetts employers need most. Announcing these grants during STEM Week is a powerful reminder that in our Commonwealth, STEM truly starts now – for students, workers, and communities alike.”

STEM Week ran Monday, Oct. 20, through Friday, Oct. 24, and celebrated the many ways hands-on learning can open doors for students at every stage of life.

“These TRAIN grants are an important part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s successful efforts to bring post-secondary opportunities to more residents, building their careers and strengthening our communities" said Ortega. “During STEM week, TRAIN grants also serve as an example of the crucial role our community colleges play in building a skilled workforce to fuel our STEM industries.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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