STRONG-CT TRCC Director, Diba Khan Bureau and STRONG-CT Scholar, Amanda McCarthy

both recently presented at the annual Legislative Affairs Breakfast

Three Rivers Community College hosts area Legislators

Norwich – Three Rivers Community College (TRCC) hosted the annual Legislative Affairs Breakfast at the Mohegan Campus.  Area State Legislators joined the TRCC faculty, students and staff at the breakfast for an update on the programs and events occurring at the college.  The breakfast theme, “Chaos and Order” focused on the continued progress TRCC is making amid the construction occurring at the College

Addressing the group, Diba Kahn-Bureau, Chairperson of the College’s Legislative Affairs Committee, welcomed the Legislators thanked them for the continued support of the college and college funding.

Speaking on behalf of TRCC, Dr. Grace Sawyer Jones, President of Three Rivers Community College, provided the group with an update on TRCC’s $88 Million construction project.  The construction project is expected to be completed in December of this year.  According to Dr. Jones, “The new consolidated and co-located New London Turnpike campus will enable us to align our services and better respond to the diverse needs of our students.”

In addition to the college update provided by Dr. Jones, Professor James Sherrard, TRCC’s Nuclear Engineering Technology Program Coordinator spoke to the group regarding the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Industry’s aging workforce and the need for more students to enter these fields.  According to Professor Sherrard “the community college system is the best place to provide students with STEM support” and to educate young students about the benefits of working in these fields.

Also on hand were several students involved in the STEM program, including (below) Amanda McCarthy, a TRCC student in the Environmental Engineering Technology program.  Ms. McCarthy shared with the group how her life has been enhanced by her experiences as a “non-traditional” student at TRCC and through her involvement in TRCC’s Environmental program.

For more information on the Legislative Breakfast, please contact Program Coordinator Diba Khan-Bureau at 885-2383, or e-mail Diba Khan-Bureau at dkahn-bureau@trcc.commnet.edu.