COLLEGE SUPPORT GRANTS – AKA MINI GRANTS

Through a mini grant provided by the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges, the Grossmont College Theatre Arts department was able to hire professional stage managers, theatre producers, actors, designers and headshot photographers creating a series of seminars for its students. These seminars prepared students holistically and logistically for entrance into the theatre and entertainment industry by assisting them with resumes, professional headshot, and portfolios for applying to jobs in the theatre, events, and entertainment industries.

Thanks to generous funding from the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges, Grossmont College Student Affairs hosted a Paint & Sip to celebrate female icons. The paint-by-numbers kit included Anna May Wong, Frida Kahlo, Sonia Sotomayor, Malala Yousafzai, Marsha P. Johnson, Michelle Obama, Rita Moreno, Maya Angelou, and more. Over 60 students, faculty, administrators, and staff came together to create their own tributes to these iconic women.

The Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges helped fund the purchase of a wireless lighting package for the Theatre Arts Department. This industry-standard technology is now being used to train students in modern lighting techniques, giving them hands-on experience with the same equipment used in professional theatre and entertainment.

Multiple visual arts projects were funded through this mini grant, including a community mural painting project, printmaking and zine-making supplies, and a piano art installation. Students worked collaboratively to create public art that enriched the campus environment and provided real-world creative experience.

The Grossmont College Classified Senate hosted a Student Appreciation Pop-Up event, bringing together students for games, snacks, and school swag. The event fostered campus community and showed students they are valued members of the college family.

This mini grant helped send 13 advanced art students to LightBox Expo in Sacramento, a premier entertainment art expo. Students connected with fellow artists, inspiring them to know they can turn their dreams into reality. This Expo is a direct conduit to internships and potentially entry-level jobs at studios including Pixar, Warner Brothers Animation, and numerous other production companies.

The Cuyamaca College SACNAS mini grant aimed to empower students by providing them with valuable experiences in science communication, civic engagement, and leadership. The team successfully accomplished a SACNAS leadership retreat and a series of community events, cultivating essential skills for establishing connections with members of the STEM community.

The Foundation helped fund the creation of a Hygiene Closet at Grossmont College, providing students with access to essential hygiene products. The closet serves students experiencing food and housing insecurity, ensuring that basic needs are met so students can focus on their education.

The Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges sponsored a speaker event for Women’s History Month, featuring a presentation on topics including eating disorders, mood disorders, and related mental health issues. The Foundation helped underwrite this event by covering speaker fees.

This mini-grant helped fund an original production by Grossmont College Theatre alum Rachael VanWormer who developed study guides for students, attended auditions, coached actors, participated in stage rehearsals, and was a guest speaker in two classes. The production was highlighted in the Grossmont College student publication, The Summit.

This mini grant helped fund resource materials that provided formal research training for students at the community college level with experimental protocol development and application using state-of-the-art EEG recording. Students have been able to learn experimental procedures using modern EEG equipment and software.

Students created unique artistic works using cigar boxes as their canvas, exploring mixed media and assemblage techniques. The project challenged students to think creatively about found objects and transform everyday items into meaningful artistic expressions.

Via Rapida (Fast Track) is a program designed to help students quickly gain the skills and credentials needed for in-demand careers. The Foundation’s mini grant supported this initiative by funding essential materials and resources for participating students.