LAKE TECHNICAL COLLEGE – AWARDED $12K BY UNITED WAY
Eustis, FL, February 2, 2017– Lake Technical College is happy to announce that the Adult Education program, “Correction Connection,” was just awarded a $12,000 grant from the United Way of Lake & Sumter Counties. This grant will be combined with other program funds and used to help expand the GED® preparation and academic remediation program currently available within the Lake County Detention Center.
During the 2015-16 school year, Lake Tech was able to provide 43 inmates with the program opportunity; 29 of these individuals successfully passed the GED® Test and earned their State of Florida High School Diploma. As effective as this was, Lake Tech is unable to meet the growing educational demand, resulting in waiting lists and cut off criteria. The $12K grant, in conjunction with additional funds and scholarships from the LTC Adult Education internal budget, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and Lake Sumter State College, will allow Lake Tech to provide this opportunity to a minimum of 80 eligible inmates.
DeAnna Thomas, Dean of Student Affairs, states “While the program will only be able to serve 80+ students face to face, the resounding impact for Lake County will be tremendous. Incarcerated individuals released with a high school credential are more likely to secure sound employment, and become positive contributors to the economic development in Lake County.” This opportunity is significant for the community as a whole because it helps troubled individuals get out of the vicious cycle of repeat offenses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that obtaining a high school credential decreases the likelihood of unemployment by 34% and increases the median pay by an average of 38%. By implementing the “Correction Connection” initiative in this facility, the investment will produce a return that is vital to the economic self-sufficiency of those most at risk in Lake County. This program will provide GED classes, educational and career counseling, workforce readiness preparation, transitioning facilitation into post-secondary education upon release, and subsequent employment follow-up.