13WHAM News aired a segment about MCC's unique partnership with 1199SEIU (Service Employees International Union) on its Friday, July 13, evening broadcasts. Adam Chodak interviewed MCC's Assistant to the Vice President Clayton Jones, student Angella Dixon, and Siobhain Kemblowski, the program specialist with the 1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund.
To watch the video:
https://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/MCC-1199-SEIU/OwvxdH1Q5Ea23nzAMVaawA.cspx
In this partnership, MCC is helping about 16 students--all members of the union and the University of Rochester--pursue their associate degrees while they hold full-time jobs. Union leadership recognizes that this partnership with MCC may move their members into other jobs--and out of their union. Still, they are committed to the career advancement of their members.
The students have attended classes since fall 2010, with financial assistance from the union's Training and Upgrading Fund. During their first year, they attended the same evening classes together and received a host of wraparound support services, such as tutoring and career counseling, designed to ensure their success. During 2011-12, they no longer attended classes together.
Here are two students’ stories:
-- Angella Dixon, a secretary in the University of Rochester Medical Center’s surgical intensive care unit for the past 14 years, is a member of MCC’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She is also an Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship recipient for achieving a high GPA (minimum of 3.5) and overcoming an impediment to success in higher education. The Rochester mother of two earned her GED at the age of 25 but postponed her college education to take care of her autistic son. Having always worked in a health care setting, Dixon, 47, aspires to become a critical-care nurse. “It’s always been my dream to go to college. I have more hope now. I have more confidence.”
-- Michael Sirianni, a worker in Strong Memorial Hospital, completed in June what he started more than 25 years ago at MCC. In 1985, he left college to work at Sibley’s department store and later at Eastman Kodak. Over the years, he recognized that an increasing number of positions in the job market, including at Strong, required a college degree. Today, the Rochester resident is an MCC graduate attending The College at Brockport. He is also enjoying a new career as patient technician, a promotion from his previous position in Strong’s environmental services department, but his goal is to become a nutritionist. “I’ve always regretted not finishing school. It’s important to me to get a degree so I can have a better career with better pay.”
Hency Yuen-Eng
College and Community Relations
07/16/2012 |