Sinclair gets grant from Walmart Foundation to help jobless

Tina Merz of Miamisburg goes over scholarship information with Clifford Lauchlan, a counselor for displaced workers at Sinclair Community College Thursday Dec. 10, 2009. Merz was laid off from her job at Reynolds & Reynolds where she worked in the recruiting department for over five years. Sinclair Community College received a grant from the Walmart Brighter Futures Project to assist displaced workers in the Dayton region. Merz received academic and career counseling as well as a $1,000 scholarship.

Lisa Powell Tina Merz of Miamisburg goes over scholarship information with Clifford Lauchlan, a counselor for displaced workers at Sinclair Community College Thursday Dec. 10, 2009. Merz was laid off from her job at Reynolds & Reynolds where she worked in the recruiting department for over five years. Sinclair Community College received a grant from the Walmart Brighter Futures Project to assist displaced workers in the Dayton region. Merz received academic and career counseling as well as a $1,000 scholarship.

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Sinclair provides scholarships, resources for displaced workers

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By Dave Larsen, Staff Writer Updated 8:24 PM Sunday, December 13, 2009

DAYTON — Enrolling in college after losing your job can be intimidating for displaced workers.

“At first you’re sitting beside kids out of high school,” said Tina Merz of Miamisburg, who enrolled this fall at Sinclair Community College after losing her job in January because of staff cuts at Reynolds & Reynolds.

Merz, 39, decided to study computer information systems after speaking with one of two Sinclair counselors dedicated to assisting displaced workers with the transition to college. The mother of three also received a $1,000 displaced worker scholarship.

The counselors and scholarships are the result of a $336,500 grant Sinclair received in August from the Walmart Foundation. Sinclair was one of eight U.S. community colleges to share in a total of $3.5 million as part of the Walmart Brighter Futures project.

“In the fall quarter, we had roughly 1,500 registered students that were identified as displaced workers,” said Melissa Tolle, director of Sinclair’s Brighter Futures project.

Through the project, Sinclair plans to provide scholarships, counseling and workshops to about 700 qualified students per quarter, Tolle said.

Counselors have seen about 100 student appointments since Sinclair’s center for displaced workers opened in November.

“Obviously, it’s been many years since I’ve been in school, and being able to have (the counselors) there to (answer) questions has been so wonderful when you’re just trying to figure it all out,” Merz said.

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