Five students at El Paso Community College (EPCC) were named 2017 Siemens Technical Scholars by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (CEP) and the Siemens Foundation.
Current students Bryant Muñiz, Lizette Navarro and Adrian Morales plus graduates Javier Casillas and Angelica Muñoz were among 51 exceptional community college students selected from some of the nation’s strongest community college programs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), which provide outstanding preparation for high-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and information technology.
“EPCC offers excellent college programs that deliver first-rate preparation of students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields,” Steve Smith, Vice President of Instruction and Workforce said. “It’s an honor for EPCC’s Nursing and Radiologic Technology programs to be among the top community colleges nationally that deliver exceptional training for STEM jobs and to be awarded with Siemens Technical Scholars scholarships for students.”
The Aspen Institute projects that jobs in STEM fields will grow at almost double the rate of non-STEM occupations. Community colleges like EPCC are playing a huge role in working to meet this demand.
More than half of all STEM jobs across the United States require an associate’s degree and pay wages that average more than $50,000 annually. Individuals with a postsecondary education earn 74% more than those with just a high school diploma.
“Watching the students grow every day, you see them advance and by the time they graduate, they are ready for the real world,” Christl Thompson, Coordinator of the Radiologic Technology Program said.
“They are not only a reflection of their education or the college, they are a reflection of us.”
The Siemens Technical Scholars selection committee identified exemplary community college STEM programs, like EPCC, that deliver exceptional training for technical STEM jobs in areas ranging from power plant technology to healthcare.
Five students, Bryant Muñiz (Radiologic Technology), Lizet Navarro (Radiologic Technology), Adrian Morales (Radiologic Technology), Javier Casillas (Radiologic Technology), Angelica Muñoz (Nursing), will receive scholarships of between $3,500 and $10,000 to continue their education.
As a progressive leader, EPCC has a vested interest in El Paso and is committed to creating access to education and the support services necessary to increase the number of college graduates. As a result, students and graduates are prepared to excel in the job market.
