Investing in futures: Fall grants focus on student resources

In higher education, grants play a crucial role in developing specialized curriculum, providing support resources to students and creating a bridge with the community.

During the Fall Term at Seminole State College of Florida, several grants were awarded that focused on student services, program advancement, adult education and business development in Seminole County. The following grants totaled over $2.8 million that will help Seminole State expand access to higher education and prepare workforce-ready graduates.

CCAMPIS

(Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools)

With the four-year, $1,753,684 CCAMPIS program grant, Seminole State aims to assist student-parents as they pursue credentials. Through a partnership with the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of Seminole, the grant helps eligible students with childcare vouchers that reduce the cost of care at approved early learning centers.

“We understand that the priority for our student-parents is their families. Through the support of CCAMPIS, our students can ensure their children are cared for while they focus on career development,” said Jan Lloyd-Lesley, associate vice president of student development. “Earning a credential means they will be better positioned to secure better paying positions and more stable employment for a better life for themselves and their families.”

In addition, the funding will be used to create and implement high-quality parenting skills workshops, parenting support group activities, and to leverage state, federal, community and institutional resources to address unmet needs. The program’s goal is to help more parents complete credentials and qualify for higher-earning jobs by providing a built-in community and student resources when they need them.

The College aims to start accepting applications in early 2026. To find out more about the program and if you meet the eligibility criteria, visit the Raider Support Childcare Resources webpage.

TRIO SSS

(TRIO Student Support Services)

Through the TRIO SSS grant, the College is launching the SSC Pathways to Successful Completion (Smartpath) program. The goal is to improve retention, graduation, academic success and transfer outcomes for students who are first generation, low-income or disabled. The grant runs for five years and has an anticipated total award of $1,361,820, with the year one award of $272,364.

A total of 140 students are expected to take part in the Smartpath program that will provide cohort-based activities, expanded advising services, progress tracking and near peer student mentoring. “College can be a difficult transition. The SSC Pathways to Successful Completion offers expanded support to students to make sure they have the knowledge they need to make informed decisions,” continued Lloyd-Lesley. “The program also offers a cohort for these students to engage. Likeminded peer-to-peer support is invaluable so they know they do not have to take on college alone.”

Student recruitment for the program is expected to start in the summer of 2026.

Perkins EUM

(Perkins Equipment and Modernization)

The Florida Department of Education has awarded Seminole State a $203,538 Perkins EUM grant. The funding will serve to enhance our Associate in Science in Engineering Technology degree program by purchasing 11 NAO Robot Power V6 AI Edition robotic arms. These modular and programmable arms will allow associate degree students to apply their theoretical knowledge to a practical application. The collaborative projects the NAO robots entail offer the opportunity for students to develop skills in programming languages, problem-solving abilities and understand the real-world applications of technology.

By aligning with current industry standards, the associate degree graduates can be confident they meet the demands of the automation and robotics fields. The industry alignment also provides a head start for high school students to participate in dual enrollment courses that prepare students for the Tosa Certification in Python and gives an added option to transfer to relevant bachelor’s degree programs in the future.

The robotic arms are expected to arrive during the Spring 2026 Term and will be housed on the Robert and Jane Lee Campus at Oviedo. 

UCF Small Business Development Center Award

Seminole State Center for Business Development (CBD) has been in operation for over 20 years. By providing small businesses training, affordable office space, resources and consulting services, they ensure Seminole County businesses have a place to grow and flourish. The CBD was awarded the UCF Small Business Development Award for $31,988 of federal passthrough money that will go toward funding staffing so the CBD can continue to provide services.

AGE & IELCE

(Adult General Education grant and Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education)

Seminole State has once again been awarded the AGE and IELCE grants. The AGE grant, $457,986, and the Adult Education and Family Literacy IELCE grant, $115,502, are used to continue the College’s adult education programs including GED and ESOL classes. The AGE grant will also be utilized in a partnership with CareerSource Central Florida to help ESOL and GED students gain career skills.

The funds will cover the cost of instructors, course materials and GED prep fees. By working in conjunction with each other, these two grants from the Florida Department of Education ensure Seminole State can continue offering courses for those looking to continue their education and increase their social and economic mobility. By focusing on adult literacy, workforce readiness, GED preparation and career skills, these grants have the potential to transform lives of adult education students and their families. 

Grants play an instrumental role in our community's workforce. By supporting student completion efforts and improvements that bring programs closer in line with specialized industry knowledge, students can more easily transition into their careers. Bridging this gap means that not only do students reap the benefit of their education faster, but so do the companies that hire them, fueling more economic growth on an individual and regional level.