For students pursuing career training at MiraCosta College’s Technology Career Institute (TCI), the greatest obstacle is not always the coursework. It may be the cost of tuition, a lack of reliable transportation, unemployment, or the challenge of supporting a family while preparing for a new career.
For the third consecutive year, Coastal Encinitas Rotary (CER) is helping remove some of those barriers. This year, the club’s Youth Committee and individual CER members contributed more than $10,000 to the MiraCosta College Foundation to provide scholarships for TCI students, according to a news release.
The Technology Career Institute offers focused, hands-on training that prepares students for employment in skilled industries. Students leave these programs with marketable skills that can lead directly to jobs in San Diego County, strengthening both their own financial futures and the local workforce.
Many TCI students are working toward greater stability while managing significant personal and family responsibilities. CER believes supporting them is especially important because these scholarships do more than help pay for training. They allow students to complete that training, enter the workforce, and begin building sustainable careers close to home, the news release stated.
Last year, CER’s donation helped fund scholarships for five students. Their experiences show clearly how the money is used and why it matters.
Aleigh received $2,000 toward the Machinist Program. A young Black woman with dyslexia, a processing disorder, and a history of overcoming educational challenges, she also helps care for her grandmother and support her siblings in a single-income, multigenerational household. Her scholarship eased some of the financial pressure at home and allowed her to concentrate on building a career in a field where women remain underrepresented, the news release stated.
Cody, a single parent raising a four-year-old daughter, received $1,000 toward the Machinist Certification Program. The assistance helped Cody balance the immediate costs of education and family life while preparing for stable, long-term employment in manufacturing.
Kyle received $2,000 for the BrewTech Program after unemployment and transportation difficulties threatened his ability to continue. The scholarship helped keep his training—and his opportunity for a new professional direction—within reach.
The MiraCosta College Foundation has described CER’s support as life-changing for the students who receive it, the news release stated, adding that one recipient, Gino, captured its impact in a letter of thanks:“Your generosity has not only lightened my financial load but also reinforced my belief in the kindness and support of others.”
That is why CER continues to invest in TCI. Each scholarship addresses an immediate financial need, but its potential reaches much further—helping a student complete a program, gain a marketable skill, and enter San Diego County’s workforce prepared to succeed.
To learn more about Coastal Encinitas Rotary, visit www.coastalencinitasrotary.org. The club meets every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. at Cicciotti’s in Cardiff. Visitors are always welcome.