CN, at its November Donations & Sponsorships Committee meeting, approved a donation of $100,000 over two years for the CN Scholarship program at Hinds Community College. Steve Browning, representing CN, presented CN’s check for $50,000 to Betty Carraway, Hinds Community College Foundation coordinator. Also present were Dr. Joyce Jenkins, left, dean of Career and Technical Education on the Raymond Campus and assistant district director for Occupational Programs, and Dr. Chad Stocks, right, associate vice president for workforce training and associate dean for career and technical education on the Raymond Campus.
Among Hinds students eligible to receive the CN Scholarship are those in the Diesel Equipment program. From left are Hinds Community College Scholarship Coordinator Mark Jimerson and CN Scholarship recipients Wes Patterson of Gadsden, Ala.; Matt Miller of Terry; Ben Pace of Pearl; Justin Kirby of Raymond; Joseph Breland of Union and Marcos Hernandez of Pearl with instructor Brent Johnson.
With a new two-year commitment for $100,000, CN is expanding opportunities for students enrolled in many Hinds Community College career and technical programs. Hinds received the first $50,000 installment in December 2015 from CN’s Community Investment Program, CN Stronger Communities Fund.
Beginning as a business focused primarily in Canada, CN is now a full-fledged North American railway – serving customers across North America and beyond and creating value for shareholders everywhere. CN offers integrated transportation services including rail, intermodal, trucking, freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution.
“CN began providing scholarships in 2003 with an initial gift of $25,000,” said Betty Carraway, Hinds Community College Foundation coordinator. “Hundreds of students have benefited from CN’s support. Some had tried academic classes after graduating from high school but had little success. These students have all done well in the career- technical programs. Many CN Scholarship recipients have been the first in their family to attend college.”
CN Scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,400 per year are awarded through the Hinds Community College Foundation to students in certain career-technical programs of study, including Automotive Machinist, Diesel Equipment Technology, Welding and Cutting Technology, Electrical Technology, Electronics Technology and Machine Tool Technology.
“The CN scholarship is vital to students at Hinds because it affords them an opportunity to attend college and a chance of getting a job. This partnership has been great for Hinds and CN,” said Dr. Joyce Jenkins, dean of Career and Technical Education on the Raymond Campus and assistant district director for Occupational Programs.
CN is committed to helping build safer, stronger communities. Their rail lines and facilities, employees, retirees, customers and suppliers are important parts of the fabric of life in hundreds of communities across North America.
Dr. Chad Stocks, associate vice president for workforce training and associate dean for career and technical education on the Raymond Campus, said he has seen first-hand the impact the scholarships have had on students. “CN scholarships have provided students the opportunity to study and learn valuable skills that will allow them to work in the transportation sector,” he said.
For more information about CN Scholarships, contact Mark Jimerson, 601.857.3744.
As Mississippi’s largest community college, Hinds Community College is a comprehensive institution offering quality, affordable educational opportunities with more than 170 academic, career and technical programs. With six locations in central Mississippi, Hinds enrolled nearly 12,000 credit students in fall 2014. To learn more, visit www.hindscc.edu or call 1.800.HindsCC.