|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
CONTACT:
Lauren Rooney |
State Rep. Pat Harkins
State Rep. Florindo J. Fabrizio D-Erie
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GE donates $15 million to local school district
Grant will be used to increase the number of local kids going to college
ERIE, April 19 – The General Electric Foundation and General Electric Transportation of Erie partnered today to present the School District of Erie a $15 million College Bound program grant to help increase the number of Erie students going on to college.
The check presentation ceremony took place this morning at Strong Vincent High School and included Gov. Ed Rendell, dignitaries from General Electric, representatives of the school district, and state Reps. Pat Harkins and Florindo Fabrizio, Democrats who represent Erie County.
According to statistics from the Penn State Data Center, only about 70 percent of Erie’s high school seniors go on to college.
“General Electric has always been a great member of this community, and I applaud its huge generosity to address the educational needs of our children,” Harkins said. “A college degree is important if our children expect to step into the high tech jobs of tomorrow. This grant will certainly open up that opportunity for many students who today may not see college in their future.”
GE Foundation’s College Bound program is a five-year, $100 million effort at several school districts across the country to increase the number of students entering college. The Erie School District will use its grant to enhance math and science programs.
“Math and science are two areas in which other nations have been making strides and in many areas outpacing our own students. With the Erie schools being able to re-emphasize the importance and application of these studies, its students will be far better prepared for the jobs of tomorrow and much more competitive in today’s global economy,” Fabrizio said.
“This historic gift will position Erie as a premier place of learning for math, science and technology,” school Superintendent James Barker said.
Erie is the fourth district in the nation to receive a College Bound grant; previous recipients include school districts in Stamford, Conn., Louisville, Ky. and Cincinnati. For more information on the GE Foundation, visit its Web site at www.ge.com/foundation.
###lr/2007/mjh l:\print\releases\GEcheck.001