Council for Resource Development Recognizes Becky Cockerham with Campus Impact Award
College of Southern Maryland Grant Development Specialist Becky Cockerham received national recognition by the Council for Resource Development (CRD) for her efforts in making a significant positive impact on a community college. Cockerham received the Outstanding Grants Professional award, one of only four awards given nationally by the CRD.
We are so proud of her and appreciate her hard work, said CSM Vice President of Advancement Michelle Goodwin. Becky focused on the colleges five major initiatives during the CSM Foundation 50th Anniversary Campaign. The colleges goal of raising $5 million in its first major gifts campaign was not only met, but was surpassed to $7.7 millionBecky was a huge part of that success.
The lead and only grants researcher and writer at CSM, Cockerham worked to leverage grants, donations, partnerships and in-kind gifts to raise funds.
The $1 million Department of Labor High Growth Job Training Initiative (HGJTI) Grant for which Cockerham applied, allowed CSM to develop Career Starters, a 10-week boot camp-type program offering instruction in welding, electrical, home inspection, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and carpentry, as well as open the Center for Trades and Energy Training, the main facility for these new programs.
Through the HGJTI grant and successful development of the welding program, Cockerham secured a $150,000 donation from Constellation Energy to equip the welding lab. Students completing the Career Starters programs receive certifications and are ready to begin apprenticeship training, and as a result, employers are engaged in supporting the program and hiring program graduates.
Cockerham secured $243,000 in Congressionally earmarked funds to support CSMs nursing program which graduates approximately 100 students each year and, working with faculty, helped CSM realize nearly $604,000 in grants for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs which include outreach programs for area elementary, middle and high school students.
If it werent for Becky Cockerham, her focus and leadershipand her one-person grants office, the CSM Foundation would not have met, or exceeded its expectations, said Goodwin. Becky helped us reach our campaign goal by raising 45 percent of those funds.
Cockerham was honored at the CRD conference in Washington, D.C., in November.
The CRD is an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges and serves more than 1,600 members at more than 700 institutions.