Lockheed Martin provides tuition relief

January 2021

A young man recently joined Palm Beach State’s BEST Summer Academy, a free career exploration program for underprivileged high school students. After graduating, he enrolled in Palm Beach State College, pursuing an Electrical Power Technology AS degree. In 2019, he obtained a long-term co-op position, allowing him to work between 20 and 32 hours a week while still taking classes part-time. He lives with his mother, who is now jobless, and the student’s co-op payments are their only source of income. Now, working the maximum hours permitted, he uses that entire income to support himself and his mother, taking only one course this semester because he cannot afford the tuition.

The story of this hard-working, enterprising young man is all too common and the reason why Palm Beach State’s partnerships are vital to not only these students but also the entire community. Today’s circumstances have altered the paths of far too many students striving for a better way of life. Putting their academic and career goals on hold, they have been forced to abandon dreams and the contributions they would be making in local and national industries.

Since 2013, Lockheed Martin has partnered with Palm Beach State College, promoting a myriad of programs, initiatives and scholarships that have changed hundreds of lives. Responding to the impact of COVID-19, Lockheed Martin is now providing students enrolled in the College’s Electrical Power Technology program with tuition and tuition-related relief, access to on-campus lab equipment and take-home tools for remote learning and hands-on skills training. Vision, generosity and innovation have created a new remote learning community that keeps students on their professional path.

“Lockheed Martin is proud to partner with Palm Beach State College in response to COVID-19 and the necessary shifts in how learning takes place,” reflects Meagan Campion, Lockheed Martin Director of Social Impact. “Our partnership expands opportunities for more students to remain enrolled in school and continue their learning and skills training remotely.”

The Electrical Power Technology program demands that students spend significant time in labs to advance the hands-on skills required for their Associate in Science (AS) degree. Responding to this need, Lockheed Martin has enabled the College to maintain the same expert level of training and reimagine lab stations that accommodate safely-distanced students without no interruption to their studies. The result is a win-win for both College and community as students are able to meet their completion schedules, graduate on time and properly prepare for day one in the Palm Beach County workforce.

Thomas, a student who earned his AS degree in 2018, knows the significance of being prepared. "Working for Lockheed Martin has been a life changing opportunity with experiences that I never would have imagined for myself. With their tuition assistance program, I am now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering to advance my career. Lockheed Martin has brought me immense success and has opened the door to even further growth. I couldn’t have done it without Palm Beach State’s Electrical Power Technology program and its incredibly knowledgeable professors."

Lockheed Martin’s partnership means more than new lab equipment. Students continue to hone their skills, climb the economic ladder and give back to the community that supported them during the most challenging time of their lives. With resources and training, they not also sustain themselves and their families but also thrive in their field, contributing to the growth and prosperity of Palm Beach County.