Klamath Community College Lands Major Federal Grant to Support Future Oregon Tech Talent

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — High-achieving, low-income students studying Cybersecurity and computer engineering at the Technology Department of the Klamath Community College (KCC) will receive financial support from a generous National Science Foundation (NSF) federal grant.

23 Eligible Students Will Receive Scholarships Staggered Across a Six-Year Study Period

Starting in October, the grant of $981,000 will support 23 eligible students over a six-year period. The students are pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Engineering Technology, Cybersecurity, and Networking.

Known as the Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) grant, the Klamath Community College’s Computer Engineering Technology Program is nationally recognized and designated as a Center for Academic Excellence.

The scholarships will bridge the financial gap between attendance costs and the Pell Grant, a federal government subsidy that assists students in paying their college tuition.

In a statement, the KCC says the scholarships will pave the way to more successful study completion rates and create introductions to well-paying and high-demand jobs in Oregon’s technology sector.

The target set by the KCC is to increase the retention rate of students in the program to 85% and to achieve a completion rate of 70% over the six-year study period.

The National Science Foundation scholarships pave the way for students to take part in an academic bridging program to prepare them for their first term of study, and an intern program with local employers to improve student success rates.