Janice Lobdell, Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.; Helen Schoonmaker, a Mountain View student studying Cosmetology at SCCTC; Peter Quigg, President Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains; Dr. Alice Davis, SCCTC Director; and Paul Cron, an Elk Lake student, studying Electrical, Plumbing and Heating at SCCTC.
BY STACI WILSON
Natural gas development in the area is having a helpful impact on students at the Susquehanna County Career andTechnologyCenter, Dimock, and not just those interested in pursuing a career in the industry.
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation has donated $50,000 in the past two years, earmarked as a scholarship to help SCCTC students purchase the supplies and items they need in their coursework.
The donation from Cabot was presented Wednesday, Oct. 5, at SCCTC.
The Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation Scholarship will provide resources for students to purchase the industry tools, kits and required testing fees they need in their respective areas of study at the SCCTC.
The scholarship fund is administered by the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains.
Peter Quigg, president of the Community Foundation, said that over the two years, Cabot’s donation will help about 225 students at SCCTC. Students from seven area school districts in two counties (Susquehanna and Wyoming) attend the vocational school at the Elk Lake School District campus.
“So it’s had a big impact,” Quigg said.
Danielle Callas, an Elk Lake student in the Food Management, Production and Services program thanked Cabot and the Community Foundation for their support.
Callas said, “Without this help, it would be really tough for me and my mom to afford all of the many expensive uniforms and industry tools I need for my classes. This really helps me reach my goal of owning my own restaurant some day.”
Cabot’s Janice Lobdell said, “We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to get the education they want.”
She said Cabot’s commitment to the students was “part of being a member of the community.”
“It creates a ripple effect that goes beyond the oil and gas industry,” Lobdell said.
That ripple begins to be felt immediately at the Community Foundation.
Quigg said, “Cabot’s help with a big project here enables us to have resources available for the other 20 schools we work with.”
SCCTC director Alice Davis said, “This scholarship opportunity minimizes some major obstacles for some students. Because of the great partnership with The Community Foundation and the generosity of Cabot, our students are benefiting tremendously.”
Since 2003, The Community Foundation has helped well over 400 students from Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties attend the Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center since 2003.
In addition to providing assistance to SCCTC students, the Community Foundation, partnering with corporate donors like Cabot, has raised over $1.5 million for education assistance that has helped over 1,600 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students attend schools and educational programs in four counties in northeastern Pennsylvania.
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