New Career Resources Page

Grantham University has just launched a Career Resources site for its students.  The Career Resources section provides helpful hints for writing resumes, cover letters and thank you notes.  The page also features links to some of the most popular job search sites. 

Staff at Grantham will be adding items to this site on a regular basis, so check back from time to time to see what is new. In the near future, we plan to have links on the Career Resources page that will take you directly to active job postings for various corporations and associations.

You can access the Career Resources section by using one of the methods below:

1. Visit www.grantham.edu/about/career_resources.php
2. Go to www.grantham.edu and click on Career Resources under the About Univ. tab

If you have any suggestions for information and articles that you would like to see on the Career Resources page, simply e-mail them to contactus@grantham.edu.

Student Spotlight: Hank Gray

Mr. Hank Gray enrolled in Grantham University’s Electronics Engineering Technology program in August 2006.  Over the years, Gray attended several traditional schools, but because of promotions and other work related changes, he ran into scheduling conflicts that resulted in his studies “grinding to a halt.” 

Earlier in his career, he had been successful with taking a correspondence course for electricians; so, when he heard about Grantham’s online courses, he decided to give them a try.  “I have found Grantham University to be a very positive experience,” said Gray.

He has worked in the Science and Engineering field for almost thirty years at Stanford University’s Linear Acceleration Center, in the Power Conversion group. “Over the years, there have been many industry advances and scientific breakthroughs,” commented Gray.  “Grantham University is providing me with the state-of-the-art computer based electronics upgrade that I've been promising myself for a long time.”

Gray is a life-long lover of science, history, and playing the guitar. Lately, he has been focusing on writing; and so far, he has had one screenplay published, by Karol Media, and has self-published a book that he ghost wrote for his mom. In his spare time, he likes to go boating (a habit he picked up from his Sea Scouting days on the San Francisco Bay), write, and tinker with homemade electronics projects.

“My goal is to complete my engineering degree at Grantham and apply the updated knowledge that I am gaining to the various scientific and electrical projects I am involved with,” said Gray.

Library Resources Site – Now Live

Do you have research to do for a paper, but don’t know how to get started?  Now, the first place you turn to doesn’t have to be Google.  Grantham University has compiled a comprehensive list of library resources for you to utilize to complete assignments and projects. 

Grantham University’s Library Resource Center provides you with 24/7 access to the full text of over 32,000 books and 3,000 journals; it also gives you access to abstract materials for over one million books and journals and links you to subject-based databases.

The site is separated into two Web pages.  One page contains general resources such as: library databases, search engines, and reference guides that can assist you in researching topics, troubleshooting grammar and usage issues, and writing quality projects that are publishable and meet source citing and copyright requirements.  The second page contains resources that are program specific.  For example, if your major is criminal justice, you have access to the FBI, Cop Net, Department of Justice and other degree related research materials. 

Regardless of your major or research interests, Grantham’s Library Resource Center is designed to offer you an easy-to-use method for efficiently retrieving the right research information for projects and assignments in a quick amount of time. The Resource Center is updated continuously so that Grantham can better assist you in your research endeavors.

To view the Library Resource Center, visit the two links below:

• Library Resources: General Reference - http://www.grantham.edu/academics/library_resource_general.php
• Library Resources: Program Specific - http://www.grantham.edu/academics/library_resource_programs.php

You can also access the Library Resource Center by visiting www.grantham.edu and selecting the Library Resources links under the Academics tab.

Upcoming Events

March 17th – Ms. Valerie Beall, Grantham’s National Director of Business Development, will be co-presenting with Jack Kenner, ACECARNET, at the Federally Employed Women of the Metro Region’s March program for Women’s History Month.  The event will be held at the historic Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, Washington, DC.  For more information, visit:  http://www.dcmetrofew.org/.  

March 20th - Grantham University will be sponsoring the Project Management Institute – Washington DC Chapter’s (PMIWDC) dinner meeting.  PMIWDC was formed to serve the networking and education needs of Washington, DC metropolitan area residents, which includes Northern Virginia and Maryland. With monthly meetings, professional development offerings (such as certification review courses), periodic workshops, and a monthly newsletter, the PMIWDC chapter strives to promote the profession of Project Management by and for its members, provide opportunities for project management education and the professional development of its members, and provide a framework for professional networking and social interaction among its members. PMIWDC is the largest chapter with over 900 members. For more information, please visit: http://www.pmiwdc.org/calendar_day.asp?date=3/20/2007.

March 22nd – Johanna Altland, Grantham’s Communications Manager, will be at the Andrew’s AFB Education Center from 11am until 2pm to assist current and prospective students. Please stop by to say hi!

March 24th – Ms. Beall will be participating in a presentation, “A College Degree, Closer Than You Think,” with Jack Kenner of ACECARNET during the Federally Employed Women’s DC Metro Regional Training.  The event will be held at the Graduate School, USDA.  Federally Employed Women (FEW) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting equality for women and addressing concerns of women in the Federal workforce. It has over 3,000 members across all government agencies. For more information, please visit: http://www.dcmetrofew.org/.

March 25th – Ms. Beall will be participating in a presentation, “A College Degree, Closer Than You Think,” with Jack Kenner of ACECARNET during the Blacks In Government Region XI Training Program. The event will be held at the Renaissance Hotel, Washington, DC.  Blacks In Government (BIG) is a national grass roots organization that promotes and supports the well-being, education, and professional development of African Americans in the Federal, State, County and municipal sectors. BIG's goals are to promote equity in all aspects of American life, excellence in public service, and opportunity for all Americans. For more information on this event, please visit: http://www.bigrxi.org/events07.html#RTC.

Quick Tips for Your Scholarship Search

Have you thought about looking for a scholarship to help offset your out-of-pocket expenses, but feel intimidated at the process?  Don’t be.  There are many scholarships that are unclaimed each year because people have the impression that they are difficult to win and are hard to find.  Below are some tips taken from Military.com to aid you in your scholarship search.

• Do your homework.  There are many free online searches that contain thousands of scholarships that you might be eligible for.  Here are a few to get you started:
  • Scholarship Resource Network Express - Scholarship Resource Network Express (SRNExpress) contains a database of over 8,000 programs with over 150,000 awards for undergraduate and postgraduate students. 
  • Scholarships.com - Scholarships.com is a free resource for college scholarships and financial aid information. You can sort scholarships by deadline, dollar amount and relevancy.
  • CollegeBoard.com - CollegeBoard.com has an online tool, Scholarship Search, to help you locate scholarships, internships, grants, and loans that match your education level, talents, and background. Complete the brief questionnaire and Scholarship Search will find potential opportunities from their database of more than 2,300 sources of college funding. 
  • Military.com – Military.com’s Scholarship Finder lists over 1,000 scholarships exclusively for the military community from a variety of sources.
• Don’t limit yourself. For those of you that are in the military, you can qualify for non-military scholarships too.  Use scholarship directories that list awards based on age, state of residence, cultural background, and field of study.
• Search in your military community.  Many service aid organizations and associations offer scholarships and grants to help cover educational expenses.
• It’s never too late to start your search.  Many scholarship application deadlines are as early as six months to a year in advance.  Also, many scholarship applications tend to have early spring or late summer deadlines. 

NMFA Accepting Applications for Military Spouse Scholarship

The National Military Family Association (NMFA) is accepting applications for its Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarships. Scholarships will be awarded to assist military spouses with obtaining professional certification or attending post secondary or graduate school.

Spouses of Uniformed Service members (active duty, National Guard and Reserve, retirees, and survivors) of any branch or rank are eligible to apply. Scholarships normally range from $500 to $1,000 and may be used for tuition, fees, and school room and board. Applications will only be accepted online at www.nmfa.org/scholarship and must be submitted by midnight March 15, 2007.

Through a new partnership with the Military Channel, NMFA has expanded the 2007 Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Program to provide additional scholarships to a larger number of deserving military spouses. NMFA recognizes that unique challenges like frequent moves and deployments can interfere with military spouses’ ability to complete their education. NMFA's military spouse education initiative is dedicated to helping military spouses gain the education they need to reach their full career potential.network. 

Federally Employed Women offers Full Scholarship

The Federally Employed Women (FEW) Foundation for Education and Training is now accepting applications for one four-year scholarship in the science and technology career fields with Grantham University. The full scholarship includes tuition and the cost of required textbooks and software.

The FEW Foundation’s Scholarship Program was established to assist members of Federally Employed Women (FEW) and their immediate families who are looking to further their academic goals. FEW recognizes the value of a quality education and is committed to assisting members and their families in reaching their goals. While the intent of the Foundation is to award the full four-year scholarship to one individual, the Foundation reserves the right to divide the scholarship if it determines that it may better meet the needs of the individual(s) applying for the scholarship.

To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must:

• Be a member of FEW in good standing and demonstrate your participation with FEW for three years or more or be an immediate family member (spouse or dependent child) of same
• Complete an essay on the topic “Why I Should be Awarded a FEW Foundation Scholarship?” This essay should be no longer than two double-space pages and should speak to your goals and your interest in a field of study within the science and technology fields
• Submit three letters of recommendation, preferably from a Chapter President, Regional Manager, Community Leader, and/or Supervisor
• Have had a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in college/high school. Must maintain 3.0 GPA
• Submit a copy of all recorded grades: high school or college transcripts
• Mail one copy of the application form and other documentation to each member of the Scholarship Committee

Applications must be postmarked by March 19, 2007. Scholarship recipient(s) will be notified by May 1, 2007.

Download an Application.

Association Highlights
American Family Mutual Insurance

Grantham’s newest educational partner, American Family Mutual Insurance, was established in 1927 with just three employees and 346 policy holders.  Today, American Family offers multiple insurance and financial product lines in 18 states. In addition, it is the nation’s third-largest mutual property and casualty insurer and the 16th-largest property and casualty insurance company group. 

American Family Insurance Group is currently comprised of these companies:

• American Family Mutual Insurance Company
• American Standard Insurance Company of Wisconsin
• American Family Life Insurance Company
• American Family Financial Services, Inc.
• American Family Brokerage, Inc.
• American Family Insurance Company (Ohio subsidiary, companion to American Family Mutual Insurance Company)
• American Standard Insurance Company of Ohio (Ohio subsidiary; companion to American Standard Insurance Company of Wisconsin)
• Amfam, Inc.
• American Family Securities, LLC

Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, it has regional offices in Madison, Wisconsin; St. Joseph, Missouri; Eden Prairie, Minnesota; Columbus, Ohio; and Denver, Colorado.  American Family Insurance and its 4,300 independent agents and 8,100 employees serve the following 18 states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

American Family Insurance believes in the power of education and encourages continuous learning throughout its employees' careers. Its’ Education Division demonstrates a commitment to building a collaborative environment in which employees gain, use and share knowledge for the benefit of the organization and themselves.  Every employee, regardless of position or location, can participate in learning opportunities offered by the Education Division. In addition, the company pays for approved insurance industry courses.

American Family also offers a Tuition Reimbursement Program to support employee efforts in continuing their education, professional and personal development.  In addition to its Tuition Reimbursement Program, employees of American Family can take advantage of a special tuition grant at Grantham which reduces the credit hour cost from $335 to $250 and includes the cost of required text books and software.