Fairmont State University receives grants through FirstEnergy to administer Falcon Day Camp scholarships and to revamp a Career Closet

​Fairmont State University has been awarded $3,000 to provide scholarships to youth attending the Falcon Day Camp and $2,000 to revamp the Career Closet for a total of $5,000 in grant funding from FirstEnergy.

Part of this funding will be used to offer full and partial scholarships based on family income for children to participate in up to three weeks of Falcon Day Camp, an eight-week summer camp program that provides high-quality enrichment activities to community youth.

These need-based scholarships will make the camp more accessible to any families who currently find the cost of attendance prohibitive. Similarly, $2,000 of the grant funding will support the Career Closet, a donation-based program where students can pick out interview-appropriate attire at no cost. The Career Closet aims to provide students in need with clothing to look their best and project confidence while working toward their career goals.

​“Our goal is to share our campus with as many people in the community as possible. These funds have afforded us the ability to offer scholarships to our camp and give children the chance to have an experience on our campus they may not have gotten otherwise,” stated Spencer Flanagan, Director of Falcon Center & Campus Recreation. According to Prof. M.E. Yancosek Gamble, Associate Professor in the College of Business and Aviation, “My vision is to eliminate the stigma around borrowing professional clothing, so the students see the Career Closet as just another added resource that FSU provides.”

The vision of FirstEnergy’s Foundation Grant program is to invest in transformative causes that improve the vitality, sustainability, and diversity of the communities FirstEnergy serves. Both funded projects aim to offer meaningful, unique opportunities that will improve Fairmont State’s community. The Falcon Day Camp provides educational and recreational experiences to local youth, seeking to increase their self-esteem, respect for different cultures, teamwork, and social communication. The Career Closet intends to mitigate the stress of students who feel discouraged or ill-equipped for job interviews.

Moving forward, the Career Closet will continue to be sustained by Prof. M.E. Yancosek Gamble and Susan Rodriguez, Senior Director of Career Development and Civic Engagement. One initiative they plan to pursue is an upcoming donation drive with a focus on gently used business attire to further stock the closet. Falcon Day Camp will continue to provide worthwhile activities for children within the surrounding community.

Anne Bolyard, President of the Fairmont State Foundation, added, “Fairmont State University and the FirstEnergy Foundation share a unified commitment to empowering the communities they serve through educational initiatives. The continued collaboration and support between the Fairmont State Foundation and the FirstEnergy Foundation makes key initiatives such as this possible.”