Donors Collaborate to Support SC4 Experience Center Vision
Posted on February 8, 2019
The SC4 Foundation and two Community Foundation donor advised funds will gift a new Tarbosauras skeleton cast to St. Clair County Community College’s Experience Center as part of a growing commitment to support the college’s long-term Experience Center vision and expansion.
“The Experience Center is an exciting priority area for the college that our Board is proud to support,” said Harold Burns, Chair of the SC4 Foundation Board. “Renovations, upgrades and additions to the center are transforming it into a dynamic, interactive and science-focused space that’s already benefitting our community. We are proud to play a role in its expansion.”
Added Jackie Hanton, Vice President of the Community Foundation, “The Nasr Family Donor Advised Fund and the Chuck and Vicky Knowlton Donor Advised Fund are both happy to support the long-term vision for the Experience Center with the Tarbosauras skeleton cast. Their collaborative funding efforts will add an experiential learning opportunity for school kids, families, students and the public, welcoming them as they enter the Experience Center.”
Opened in the fall of 2018, the Experience Center is a hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) center. The space features unique and evolving exhibits, such as the currently featured wind and solar energy exhibits, an augmented reality sandbox, a live sturgeon exhibit and more. It is open to the public and is a g-rowing regional field trip destination thanks to a collaborative partnership with the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and its Unity in Learning initiative.
The Tarbosauras skeleton cast joins a collection that includes a woolly rhinoceros skeleton replica, and T-Rex and Mastodon skull replicas.
“We are grateful to have such wonderful support for our college and community,” said SC4 President Dr. Deborah Snyder. “Our Experience Center provides unique and interactive educational opportunities to students and community members who may not otherwise have access. This skeleton cast will be a great addition to our exhibit, complementing and strengthening our offerings as well as helping to ignite passion and curiosity for years to come.”
The college plans to continue with future enhancements at the Experience Center as funding allows. Enhancements include curriculum integration under program development, interactive digital signage to support learning, infrastructure design support and the purchase or loan of additional exhibits.
The St. Clair County Community College Foundation started in 1963 to raise friends and funds to benefit SC4 and the students it serves.
The Community Foundation is the largest Foundation serving Michigan’s Thumb Coast region with assets of approximately $75 million. In May, the Foundation will celebrate its 75th anniversary.
