Melissa Peterson, a single mother of two and a 1994 high school graduate, was laid off from an office job in 2008 and decided to pursue her interest in science.

She received a scholarship through the Madison Area Technical College Foundation to enroll in a new program that prepares students for jobs in scientific research labs. Area businesses had alerted the College that they had a great need for entry-level lab workers.

"I wanted a degree that would put me in the work force quickly, so I looked at what the College had to offer, and biotechnology looked very interesting,” said the DeForest resident, in photograph at left.

As federal and state aid to the College and to students declines, the cost of technical training increasingly puts pressure on cash-strapped students through tuition.

"Without this money I would have had to choose working full-time and to forget about going to school,” Melissa said. The Foundation works with the College to preserve our mission as a low-cost, accessible route to higher education with about $1 million awarded through the Foundation each year. This support reaches about 5 percent of College students in degree and certificate programs.