North Central Michigan College Foundation
Final Grant Report for
Fiscal agent if applicant is not tax exempt:
Tax ID Number:
38-2910328
Contact First Name:
Contact Last Name:
Miranda
Fisher
1515 Howard Street Petoskey, MI 49770
Address:
Email:
231.439.6216
Phone Number:
Project Name:
Fast Tracks Scholarships and Program Funding
Project start and end dates:
Friday, August 1, 2025
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Amount Granted From Hestia:
$
4000
Project results and Impact
How many girls/women have been served by the project during this project year?
Three women:Shianne Langone, Hannah Escamilla, and Kimone Akbar (all from Emmet County),made significant steps forward in their careers thanks to your support. Shianne became a certified medical assistant, and both Hannah and Kimone earned their certified nurse aide credentials through Fast Track scholarships funded by the Hestia Women's Giving Circle.
These three women are now working in Emmet County, directly supporting the health and well-being of our community. Your investment not only impacted them, but also supported the women leading these programs at North Central Michigan College, and the ripple effects will continue to grow.
As we know, women are deeply connected. These individuals have become examples for their peers, families, and friends, demonstrating what hard work and perseverance can achieve. They do not exist in a vacuum, the impact of these scholarships will continue to reach women and girls across our community for years to come.
Goal of the Project
Did you meet your program goals for the grant period?
If yes, how do you know? Please describe any program evaluation you use:
If no, please describe current barriers and how you are working to overcome them:
Through our Fast Track scholarships, we aim to provide exceptional, accessible, and relevant education for the benefit of all. Thanks to the generous support of the Hestia Women's Giving Circle, we were able to directly support three women in Emmet County as they completed or progressed through high-demand healthcare credentials.
We evaluate success through program completion, credential attainment, and local job placement. All three recipients completed and have secured employment in Emmet County, demonstrating strong alignment with our workforce and community impact goals.
Student feedback further reinforces this success, with recipients sharing that financial support made their participation possible.
We are deeply grateful for your partnership and investment in North Central Michigan College and our students.
Do you have a story of how your program positively changed participant's situation, behavior, or knowledge?
If so, please share it:
I had been contemplating going back to school for quite some time. After graduating high school, I went straight into the workforce as a phlebotomist at McLaren Hospital, then worked for Quest Diagnostics for three years. When COVID began, the healthcare environment became uncertain, overwhelming, and scary. I left in October 2020, heartbroken, scared, and burned out.
For the last five years, I have worked as a manager for Joann Fabrics and fell in love with my customers. However, when Joann Fabrics closed in April 2025, I knew it was time to return to my original passion: healthcare.
I found the Certified Medical Assisting (CMA) program and applied, but as a displaced worker on unemployment, I couldn’t secure funding. I was encouraged to apply for scholarships, which led me to you.
Receiving this scholarship is life changing. I attended in August 2025! My long-term goal is to become a registered nurse in labor and delivery, but for now, I’m thrilled to start with my CMA.
Thank you so much for investing in my future. Your generosity means more than you know.”
—Shianne Langone
Sustainability
Will this project continue?
If so, how will it be funded?
If not, why not?
The Fast Track program remains a vital part of our work at North Central Michigan College, and we are committed to its ongoing growth and impact. We will continue to seek philanthropic support, including scholarship funding, as state and local funding sources have become increasingly limited in the current environment. We are hopeful that strong community investment, like that of the Hestia Women's Giving Circle will allow us to sustain and expand these opportunities.
At the same time, we are working to keep programs as cost-effective and accessible as possible for students.
Beyond workforce outcomes, Fast Track programs provide an important “ladder” opportunity—helping students build confidence in their abilities and take the next step in their education. Shianne, a Hestia scholarship recipient, is a strong example. While she is thriving as a Certified Medical Assistant, she plans to continue her education to become a labor and delivery nurse through NCMC.
It is often more than just the course itself, the confidence and sense of community built through these experiences create lasting impact. We are grateful for your partnership in helping this program continue and grow.
Public Relations
How did you publicize this grant?
Please list any examples.
We were proud to publicly recognize the support of the Hestia Women's Giving Circle through multiple channels.
We shared a dedicated social media post highlighting the impact of the grant and Hestia’s role in supporting Fast Track scholarships: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BFVDY9KYk/
In addition, we acknowledged Hestia’s support at events and community gatherings, helping to elevate awareness of both the program and the important role Hestia plays in our region. We have found that Hestia’s involvement lends strong credibility to our work, and community members are often more inclined to support educational initiatives when they see trusted organizations like Hestia leading the way.
We are grateful for the opportunity to share your impact and highlight your investment in education and workforce development through North Central Michigan College.
Summary Comments
First and foremost, thank you to the Hestia Women's Giving Circle for your thoughtful and impactful support. Your investment in Fast Track scholarships at North Central Michigan College is doing more than funding education, it is opening doors, restoring confidence, and strengthening our local workforce.
Fast Track programs were developed to meet immediate community needs by providing accessible, flexible pathways into high-demand careers. What began as short skill-based courses has evolved into robust workforce programming, including Certified Medical Assistant and Nurse Aide training, programs that now place graduates directly into local jobs.
Your support allowed us to directly impact students in Emmet County, helping them gain credentials, employment, and confidence to continue their education. These programs often serve as a critical first step, showing students what is possible.
We are deeply grateful for your partnership. The ripple effect of your investment will continue to strengthen individuals, families, and our entire community.
Grant Final Budget Form
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