LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City (Photo LaGuardia Community College)
April 6, 2022 By Czarinna Andres
LaGuardia Community College has raised $15 million to help students whose studies were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $15 million comes via a fundraising campaign the college launched last year where it was set the goal of bringing in $10 million, which was needed to unlock a $5 million gift from an anonymous donor.
LaGuardia, which surpassed its $10 million target last month, will deploy the $15 million to help students stay in school and complete their degrees.
Many LaGuardia students come from low-income, immigrant families in Queens that were particularly hard hit by the pandemic. Proceeds of the campaign will benefit as many as 20,000 degree-seeking and workforce-training students through scholarships, paid internships, emergency aid, and other awards.
LaGuardia, which is located on Thomson Avenue in Long Island City, is among the few community colleges in the country that provide scholarships to students in non-credit workforce-training programs.
The funds will also enable NYC residents who lost their jobs during the pandemic to take industry certification courses in construction, healthcare, and technology.
“With $15 million in new resources, LaGuardia Community College can help lead an equitable economic recovery in Queens. For students whose college dreams were derailed by the pandemic, LaGuardia is the place to get back on track,” said LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams.
“We launched this campaign to help our students reap the benefits of earning a college degree or professional certificate, which is more important than ever during these difficult times,” said LaGuardia Community College Foundation Chair Suzie Scanlon Rabinowitz.
Students who receive aid from the LaGuardia Community College are three times more likely to graduate, according to the college.
The college supports students regardless of immigration or citizenship status, full-time or part-time enrollment, or if they’re in a degree or non-degree program.
