Panhandle Times

Laredo Community College issued the following announcement.

Laredo College was selected as the only community college nationwide, the only institution of higher education in Texas and one of only ten recipients nationwide to receive a generous gift from popular short-form video platform TikTok that will be geared toward improving healthcare in South Texas.

Earlier this month, LC received $1 million for scholarships, academic and faculty support, recruitment and equipment. This generous gift will be crucial to the innovation and advancement in healthcare and technology needed to respond to the global challenges posed by the pandemic.

“We feel honored to have been selected for this generous gift,” Laredo College President Dr. Ricardo J. Solis said. “This partnership will help hundreds of students pursue their educational goals in health sciences and make an immediate, extraordinary impact in our community as we continue innovating and being a leader in education across the nation. TikTok has selected Laredo College as the sole community college recipient amongst an extensive pool of colleges and universities nationwide. I believe that this is due to our leadership, innovation and excellence.”

The popular platform has been supporting frontline medical workers, educators and local communities around the world by establishing relief funds. In their efforts to support educational entities in the United States, they evaluated higher education institutions to be the recipients of these funds. In addition to their evaluation of institutional performance, and various interviews held with Dr. Solis and other LC administrators, TikTok also reached out to members of Congress for their input. Congressman Henry Cuellar’s support of Laredo College was pivotal in their selection for this prestigious award.

“To be only one of ten schools nationwide to receive this $1 million gift, shows just how impactful Laredo College is on their students, faculty and staff,” said Congressman Cuellar. “While our communities battle an unprecedented pandemic, we look to institutions like Laredo College to sharpen the minds of our future health professionals through advanced health sciences programs. With this contribution, they will be able to help provide students and faculty with the means to succeed. I’d like to congratulate Dr. Solis and Laredo College on receiving this award.”

All higher education institutions that were considered went through a comprehensive evaluation process in order to qualify as one of the selected recipients of these educational funds. Laredo College demonstrated innovation, quality education, adaptability, affordability and impactful student life. From a wide pool of possible candidates to receive this funding, Laredo College was selected among the top contenders. The top higher education institutions were also interviewed by TikTok to select the ten recipients. 

“Healthcare workers are the heroes of the global pandemic, and deserving heroes within the TikTok community. The TikTok Health Heroes Relief Fund was created to support their efforts and we are honored to be able to continue our commitment to the healthcare community,” said Belinda Frazier, Head of Culture and Diversity at TikTok North America.

Among the ten awardees, LC was the only community college to be selected nationwide and the only higher education institution in Texas to secure the million-dollar gift.

Part of the funds will be utilized for scholarships and recruitment costs to support current and prospective students in the health sciences fields. Students who reside in Webb, Dimmit, La Salle, Starr and Zapata counties can benefit from these funds should they meet program qualifications.

The remaining sum will be geared toward funding current and future health sciences programs, faculty and academic support. Academic support will be provided to students and faculty in the form of new equipment, software, training and any other functions that will aid in the fulfillment of the college’s mission.

Laredo College will continue to focus on its mission to transform students’ lives through innovative educational programs and services, continue its dynamic partnerships, and aspire and cultivate advanced teaching methods. Once more, through this award, LC has achieved institutional excellence and will continue to aid students in the achievement of their educational goals by implementing collaborative pathways that enhance student learning.

Original source can be found here.