Grant Application for
North Central Michigan College Foundation
Mission Statement:
To provide exceptional, accessible, relevant higher education to the benefit of all.
Fiscal agent if applicant is not tax exempt:
Tax ID Number:
38-2910328
Contact First Name:
Contact Last Name:
Miranda
Fisher
Address:
1515 Howard Street Petoskey, MI 49770
Email:
Phone Number:
231.439.6216
Website:
Project Name:
Fast Tracks Scholarships and Program Funding
Project start and end dates:
August 1, 2025
July 31, 2025
Amount Requested:
$
4000
Project Description:
North Central Michigan College’s Fast Track programs offer short-term training to prepare students for high-demand careers. Since 2020, over 430 students have completed certificates in fields like IT, Medical Assisting, Welding, HVAC, Dental Assisting, Phlebotomy, and more. These programs are a vital resource for individuals—especially women—seeking to gain skills, re-enter the workforce, or secure better-paying jobs.
In 2025, due to significant state and federal funding cuts, our ability to offer scholarships has been reduced.
The NCMC Foundation is requesting $4,000 from the Hestia Women’s Giving Circle to provide scholarships for women pursuing Fast Track training.
Your support would offer a crucial hand up, helping women overcome financial barriers and build a more secure future for themselves and their families.
Goal of the Project
How many people will you reach?
8
What percentage are female?
100
If your program serves both males and females, how will Hestia funds specifically target women and girls?
While North Central Michigan College’s Fast Track programs are open to both male and female students, Hestia funds would be designated exclusively for scholarships for women who would otherwise be unable to participate due to financial constraints.
Since the launch of Fast Tracks in 2020, 67% of our participants have been women, with 287 women successfully completing certification programs. This demonstrates both strong demand and clear impact among women seeking to improve their career opportunities.
All grant funds received from Hestia would be strictly allocated to provide scholarships for women who live or work in Emmet or Charlevoix Counties, ensuring that support directly empowers local women to gain skills, achieve economic independence, and strengthen their communities.
How are recipients identified or selected to receive services? Is financial need considered?
Financial need for recipients of Fast Tracks scholarships is always a consideration. Students who register for Fast Tracks have the opportunity to apply for funding to cover a portion or full tuition depending on need. We find it very important that our students have "some skin in the game," and have found that student success rates rise when at least a small portion of tuition must be covered by themselves. Our students fill out a survey prior to starting to coursework that asks for the gender identification. Often community members have met with our Career Services team and have identified certain needs: wanting a higher salary, wanting to be able to afford childcare, wanting to feel challenged and valued in their place of employment etc - Wendy, our Career Services guru often leads them to apply for a Fast Track program and often she already understands their income constraints/struggles and will suggest the community member receive a scholarship.
What do you hope to achieve? What difference will this make in the lives of women and girls?
How will this project meet Hestia's mission statement?
Yes, financial need is a key consideration when awarding Fast Track scholarships. All students who register for a Fast Track program are given the opportunity to apply for tuition assistance, which may cover part or all of the program cost based on demonstrated need. While we aim to reduce financial barriers, we also encourage students to contribute a small portion of the tuition themselves, as we’ve found that personal investment often leads to higher completion and success rates.
Students complete an intake survey prior to starting coursework, which includes questions about gender identification. Additionally, many prospective students are referred to Fast Track through NCMC’s Career Services team. Our team, led by Career Specialist Wendy Kresnak, often meets with community members—many of whom are women—seeking better wages, affordable childcare, or more fulfilling employment. Through these conversations, Wendy frequently identifies financial constraints and helps guide individuals toward scholarships and enrollment.
How will you evaluate or measure your success:
At North Central Michigan College, we track Fast Track program success through enrollment, completion, and employment data. We’re enhancing our efforts in 2025–2026 to more closely follow students’ career progress and long-term outcomes. This helps us demonstrate the real-world impact of scholarships on individual lives and the local workforce. In addition to data, we collect student testimonials and stories that reflect the deeper transformation these programs provide—offering not just credentials, but confidence, opportunity, and a path to a better future.
Grant Project Budget Form
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