November 2024

Dear friends,

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it is heartwarming to thank everyone who has supported our college and our students over the past year. Growing up, my mom used to say: “Gratitude determines your attitude.” Especially now with further education being wrongly attacked from many fronts as irrelevant, it is more important than ever to express our gratitude to you—our advocates, employers, public and private sector leaders, and donors, as well as our faculty, staff, and alumni, who choose to invest their time, talent, and/or treasure to help us fulfill our mission: to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement.

The incredible work of our Prison and Reentry Education Program (PREP) was highlighted in a front page Boston Globe article this week titled “From prison to green jobs: Ex-inmates among new workforce powering state’s climate goals.” PREP is a perfect example of how investment in education changes lives.

Below are just a few of the recent accomplishments made possible by your ongoing support. Your friends at Franklin Cummings Tech wish wish you a very happy and restorative Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

New Campus Topping Off Celebration

The college hosted a joyous “topping off” ceremony last week marking the day that iron workers placed the last steel beam on our new purpose-built campus at 1011 Harrison Ave. in Nubian Square. Construction is progressing quickly thanks to the skilled project management of Dellbrook/One Way, Iron Workers Local 7 Union, and other construction professionals on site, and LMP, who is managing on the project.

See more Topping Off Ceremony photos
Stay up-to-date on the project's progress via the Move to Roxbury microsite

Cybersecurity Clinic Open for Business

The Franklin Cummings Tech Cybersecurity Clinic launched this fall in partnership with the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA). Students in the Cybersecurity associate degree concentration provide free free security audits to area small businesses as part of a project-based learning component of their studies. The semester culminates with a presentation to the business owner and invited members of their team on areas of cyber vulnerability, along with recommendations to improve their company's security posture. Professor Rachid Elaafer and a group of students (above) recently visited a client site as part of the audit. Professor Elaafer noted, "The clinic is part of our commitment to provide students with relevant, hands-on training so that they are ready for work. Plus, students enjoy making a difference in their community." The Franklin Cummings Tech Cybersecurity Clinic is supported by a $1 million, multi-year grant from Google.

Alumni Success Story: Alex Faulkner

Alex Faulkner, '22 Automotive Technology AS, was one of just 40 students worldwide chosen for the 2024 Diversity in Economics Summer Institute, a prestigious 3-week residential program designed to support talented undergraduate economics students from a broad range of backgrounds. Faulkner is currently pursuing an Economics bachelor's degree at Stetson University, where he transferred after completing his associates at Franklin Cummings Tech. He credits his Franklin Cummings Tech experiences with his selection for the special professional development opportunity to advance his passion for economics. "They wanted people with different experiences and backgrounds and experiences. As an Automotive technician, I saw economics in an applied format before I even knew what economics was," he said.

Faulkner began his studies at Franklin Cummings Tech as an Early College student who was seeking a hands-on college technical program. Working as an auto technician during college and after graduation gave him the opportunity to see the effects of management and teamwork, and to take on a team leader role. He initially considered going back to school to major in Business, but when he took his first Economics course he fell in love with the field. He expects to earn his bachelor's degree in Economics in May 2026. He plans to start a career as a researcher and potentially continue into a PhD program. "I love to learn and I don't want to stop. I'm very grateful to be a [Franklin Cummings Tech] alumni," he said.

Alex is pictured above at right at the Expanding Diversity in Economics Summer Institute, hosted by the Becker Friedman Institute on the University of Chicago campus in Chicago and the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at Brookings in Washington, DC.

Please consider making a year-end gift to foster a rigorous learning environment that offers robust student support through graduation and into post-graduate careers. This is an investment in amazing students like Alex with many returns.

Click here to make a gift

Win a Boston Marathon Bib

Thanks to the generosity of Schneider Electric, Franklin Cummings Tech will distribute 5 Boston Marathon runners’ bibs in support of wrap-around and emergency services for students!

We are looking for experienced runners who can meet the $10,000 fundraising minimum requirement. If you are interested in supporting the educational mission of Franklin Cummings Tech by joining our Boston Marathon Team, please fill out the application by Friday, December 13.

Apply Now

To learn more about our wrap around services and emergency funding for students, click here.

We're a Great College for Veterans

Franklin Cummings Tech made the Military Times 2024 Best for Vets: Colleges rankings, the largest and most comprehensive annual list recognizing the top colleges and universities for military service members and veterans. Military Times surveys colleges and universities nationwide to evaluate their veteran-focused programs. These survey responses, along with public data sourced from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs, undergo a rigorous analysis by the Military Times data team to produce a trusted, unbiased ranking. We're proud to be listed and hope to welcome even more student vets as a result.

Your Feedback Matters! Please Take our Strategic Planning Survey

We're conducting a survey to gather insights from supporters like you. As we prepare to move to our new campus in Nubian Square and begin the next chapter for Franklin Cummings Tech, we’d like to make sure you are with us for every step of this exciting journey. Your insights will help us shape how we continue to carry out our mission. Click here to take the survey

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