Mohawk College Newsroom

In the news: Mohawk College opens first city school with help from Hamilton couple

Mon, 05 Oct 2015 09:45:15 -0400

CHML 900 has this story about the launch of City School by Mohawk at the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre and the $100,000 donation from Dr. Douglas Barber and his wife to bring a college education to an entire North Hamilton neighbourhood.

Hamilton couple gives the gift of a college education to an entire North Hamilton neighbourhood (media release)

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 09:00:00 -0400

Dr. Douglas Barber and his wife June Barber are the first donors to City School by Mohawk. During City School's official opening at the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre, the Barbers were the first to sign a commemorative school ruler made from a 100-year-old reclaimed church pew from a Hamilton church.

HAMILTON (Oct. 2, 2015) – Dr. Douglas Barber and his wife June have made the first donation to City School by Mohawk.

The Barbers are donating $70,000 to support City School by Mohawk programs and $30,000 to establish scholarships for Mohawk students who serve as peer mentors at City School.

Dr. Barber was the co-founder of Linear Technology and President and CEO of Gennum Corporation while Mrs. Barber was the founder of artisan collective Textures Craftworks.

The Barbers were recognized this morning during Mohawk’s official opening of its first City School by Mohawk in a renovated classroom at the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre in North Hamilton. City School by Mohawk will deliver tuition-free college courses, lectures and workshops to youth, adults and seniors in the Keith, Sherman, Jamesville, Beasley, Crown Point and Gibson / Landsdale neighbourhoods.

Mohawk plans to open City Schools in six priority neighbourhoods over the next three years in collaboration with community partners and in consultation with neighbourhood residents. City School by Mohawk is part of Mohawk’s ongoing commitment to improve access to post-secondary education for all Hamiltonians.

June and Douglas Barber were recognized by Mohawk College President Ron McKerlie (left) and Dean Jim Vanderveken during the official opening of the first City School at Mohawk. The Barbers have made a $100,000 donation to City School.

QUOTE:

“We are grateful to Dr. Douglas Barber and his wife June for making the first donation to City School by Mohawk. The Barbers have generously given the gift of a Mohawk education to an entire North Hamilton neighbourhood.” – Mohawk College President Ron McKerlie

Mohawk College educates and serves 30,000 full-time, part-time and apprenticeship students from three Hamilton campuses. For the fifth year in a row, Mohawk has ranked first for overall student satisfaction among colleges in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. More than 85 per cent of Mohawk students are working within six months of graduating from Mohawk.

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[vimeo 141210983 w=500 h=281]

Highlights from Douglas and June Barbers' remarks during the opening of City School from Communications and Media on Vimeo.

For more information, contact:

Jay Robb, Director of Communications, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

Mohawk College opens first City School in North Hamilton (media release)

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 09:00:00 -0400

HAMILTON, ON (Oct. 2, 2015) – The first City School by Mohawk officially opened at the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre in North Hamilton this morning.

In consultation with neighbourhood residents, Mohawk will deliver tuition-free courses, lectures, workshops and services for youth, adults and seniors living in the Keith, Sherman, Jamesville, Beasley, Crown Point, Gibson / Lansdowne neighbourhoods.

City School by Mohawk is part of the college’s ongoing commitment to increase access to post-secondary education for all Hamiltonians. In collaboration with college partners, Mohawk plans to open City Schools in six priority neighborhoods over the next three years.

QUOTES:

“In some Hamilton neighbourhoods, Mohawk seems a world away and college education appears out of reach. Mohawk is proud to collaborate with the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre to bridge that divide and bring City School by Mohawk to North Hamilton. We look forward to working with our college partners to help our new neighbours realize their full potential and achieve their dreams.” – Mohawk College President Ron McKerlie.

“The Eva Rothwell Resource Centre is a place of trust for many of our neighbours so partnerships must be of the highest calibre. Mohawk’s reputation will strengthen our position to offer new programs that meet the needs and expectations of the people we serve and improve access to post-secondary education.” – Eva Rothwell Resource Centre Executive Director Michelle Gellatly

ACHIEVING YOUR DREAMS IS OUR MEASURE OF SUCCESS: Guests at the official launch of City School by Mohawk at the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre signed a ruler that will be displayed in the classroom. The ruler was made from a reclaimed 100-year-old church pew.

FAST FACTS:

City School by Mohawk aligns with the Province's Community Hubs in Ontario Action Plan and the City of Hamilton's Neighbourhood Action Strategy

Mohawk launched an access strategy in 2010 to help increase post-secondary participation rates in Hamilton’s priority neighbourhoods.

City School by Mohawk builds on the success of Mohawk’s College in Motion team which serves more than 1,000 youth annually at over 30 schools and community centres throughout Hamilton. More than 800 students have gone on to attend and graduate from Mohawk.

Mohawk invested $60,000 to renovate a former classroom at the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre. The work was carried out by instructors and students in Mohawk’s Building Renovation program.

Neighbourhood residents have asked Mohawk to deliver academic upgrading and college preparation courses, job readiness workshops, general interest lectures and mentoring programs.

[vimeo 141204582 w=500 h=281]

Mohawk College opens first City School in North Hamilton from Communications and Media on Vimeo.

Mohawk educates and serves 30,000 full-time, part-time and apprenticeship students at three Hamilton campuses. For the fifth consecutive year, Mohawk has ranked first in overall student satisfaction among all colleges in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

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For more information, contact:

Jay Robb, Director of Communications, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca