Lorain County Community College receives grant to establish STEM Discovery Institute

The Lorain County Community College Foundation has received a $5 million grant to aid in the establishment of a new STEM center on campus that will provide students with support as they prepare for future careers in a STEM-related field. The grant comes via The Eric & Jane Nord Family Fund; the new STEM center will be called the Eric & Jane Nord STEM Discovery Institute. Additionally, in thanks for decades of support from the Nord family, Lorain County Community College will rename its college center building to the Eric & Jane Nord College Center.

According to an article on Lorain County Community College’s website, Richard Nord spoke on behalf of The Eric & Jane Nord Family Fund and was quoted as saying, “Our family has a long association with the College and its Foundation. The Eric & Jane Nord Family Fund is pleased to support the college, and we hope the Eric & Jane Nord STEM Discovery Institute will be a beacon of hope and inspiration, shaping the future of our students and our community.”

The Nord family has been involved with Lorain County Community College since its inception. Walter Nord served as chairman of the committee which selected the permanent site of LCCC’s campus in 1966. Eric Nord was the chair of the Stocker Center Capital Campaign. The family was also heavily involved in the establishment of The Nord Advanced Technologies Center, which first opened under a different name in 1984. 

Marcia J. Ballinger, the president of Lorain County Community College, spoke at the LCCC Foundation’s GRADitude event in June when the gift was announced. She shared her thanks to the family, saying, “It is truly humbling and an honor that our College Center, which was recognized by the Ohio Bicentennial Commission as the first community college in Ohio with a permanent campus, will carry the Nord name and serve as a reminder to all who walk through its doors of the Nord legacy and their commitment to community. The Nord family has been instrumental in the longevity and success of both the College and the Foundation. Their unwavering support has been a cornerstone of our success.”

According to Richard Nord, The Eric & Jane Nord STEM Discovery Institute will hold the motto “Develop Yourself. Be Productive. Share with Others.” At the Discovery Institute, students will have access to career pathways, mentoring, career exploration, and other support services. Additionally, one of the goals of the Institute will be to increase the number of Lorain County high school students who graduate with college credit to LCCC. Currently, 47% of students fall into the category.

“We know that if students take just one college credit, they are twice as likely to continue on toward a credential or degree leading to a family-sustaining wage. The Eric & Jane Nord STEM Discovery Institute will be vital in helping more students access the jobs of the future and fulfill the talent needs of industry in our region,” explained Ballinger.

Ballinger went on to say, “STEM-related careers, whether in healthcare, information technology, or advanced manufacturing, are among the most in demand jobs today and in the future and are among the top careers that also support strong wage growth. Yet not enough students choose these careers; often because these careers are not well known to students and their families, or the pathways may seem out of reach, especially for first generation or economically disadvantaged students. We must change that. The Eric & Jane Nord STEM Discovery Institute will open students to the possibilities and support them in pursuing educational pathways to prepare for these careers offered right here at Lorain County Community College.”

For more information about Lorain County Community College, visit the school’s website.