Friends of Carroll County Adult Tutorial Services was chosen as one of thirteen non-profit agencies across the greater Lakes Region to receive a grant from the Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB) Charitable Fund in 2014. The $5000 grant will be used to help defray the cost of tuition and provide other materials to students participating in adult education courses at Carroll Academy in Tamworth.
Friends of Carroll County Adult Tutorial Services was formed in 2003 to provide Carroll County adults the instruction and guidance needed to improve literacy and obtain a high school diploma or a High School Equivalency Test (Hi-SET). Though they strive to keep course rates as low as possible, the tuition and exam entrance fees are often more than the students can afford. Contributions received from donors, like Meredith Village Savings Bank, are used to cover the cost of scholarships for courses and exam fees for students.
“Our program allows students who have been away from education for many years or who may have had a bad experience in the past the opportunity to step back into an environment where they are welcomed by a group of classmates that share the same fears and goals,” said LS Elisabeth Swiriduk, Teacher and Administrative Assistant for Carroll County Adult Tutorial Program. “It is a collaborative learning environment and students are incredibly supportive of each other’s success.”
Rachid Fabiane, a native of West Sahara, Africa, who is working as a chef for a local camp, first entered the program to help enhance his English skills and went on to pass the Hi-SET exams and receive his diploma. Rachid shared, “I had never thought about attending college. But, with a diploma I have opened many new doors for myself.” Rachid was recently accepted to the Culinary Institute of America, where he will pursue his goals to teach culinary arts and share his passion for cooking with others.
It is the mission of Friends of Carroll County Adult Tutorial Program to support the activities of Carroll County Adult Education and Carroll Academy. These programs provide adults, over the age of 18, instruction in the areas of: Basic Literacy, GED Preparation and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The Program’s high school, Carroll Academy, provides adult evening classes and also accepts students from area high schools who need to make up credit in order to graduate from their high school.
MVSB established the Meredith Village Savings Bank Fund in 1997 under the leadership of John Starrett who was then president and CEO of the Bank. Since then, 248 grants totaling more than $971,992 have been awarded to a wide range of environmental, social, educational, and historic projects throughout the Greater Lakes Region and Plymouth areas. Over the years, the Fund has supported literacy programs, after-school programs, environmental monitoring and education, restoration of historic structures, organizations that provide support for individuals and families in challenging circumstances, and equipment that helps save lives. The deadline for consideration for the 2014 grant cycle is October 15, 2014. Applications are available on the Bank’s website (www.mvsb.com) and at all MVSB offices.
Photo Caption: Jenifer Williams (left) and Eric Petell (right) present a $5000 check to LS Elisabeth Swiriduk, Teacher and Administrative Assistant for Carroll County Adult Tutorial Program (center) and recent Carroll Academy graduates, Rachid Fabiane (second from left), Jasmine Tilton (third from left), Charlene Pennell (third from right) and Chrissy Ireland (second from right).
