Lakeland receives $80,000 grant for students
in the biotechnology science program | Open house slated for March 4

Lakeland's biotechnology science program has been awarded $80,000 from the Ohio Department of Higher Education to support 16 biotechnology science students for the 2019-2020 academic year.

The program, called "Choose Ohio First," will cover the cost of tuition and fees up to $5,000 for biotechnology science students who do not receive full PELL grants.

High school graduates who passed chemistry with a C or better are encouraged to apply if they fit the following criteria:
• First time college student, College Credit Plus or transfer credits permissible
• Have an interest in a career in the laboratory biological sciences or data/analysis management as it pertains to biological data
• Be enrolled in the biotechnology science program at Lakeland
• Place into MATH 1650 or pass MATH 0950
• Reside in Ohio

"Students who receive this scholarship will have their tuition and books fully covered," said Dr. Joe Deak, program chair of the biotechnology science program. "We currently have eight students taking advantage of this funding."

Lakeland's biotechnology science program currently has more than a 95 percent placement rate into jobs or transfer to a four-year-college or university. Institutions where graduates matriculate include Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland State University, Indiana Wesleyan, Kent State University, John Carroll University, Lake Erie College and Youngstown State University.

Lakeland also has a 2+2 articulation with Ursuline College, which allows students to transfer all of their credits and graduate with a bachelor's degree in two additional years or less.

"After graduating from Lakeland, many students are then able to receive tuition waivers or reimbursements from their employers to reduce, or eliminate, the cost of the bachelor's degree," said Deak.

Many of Lakeland's biotechnology students intern or work in companies and institutions across the region including CWRU, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Steris Corp., Concord Biosciences, Athersys, Amresco, Chantest, Cell Technologies Ltd, Oakwood Laboratories, Sherwin Williams, Lubrizol, NSL Analytical Services Inc. and Herbal Essentials.

For more information, make plans to attend the biotech lab open house Monday, March 4, during one of two times: noon or 6 p.m., in A-Building, room A-3012, or contact Dr. Joe Deak, biotechnology science program director at 440.525.7466 or jdeak@lakelandcc.edu.

By: Jessica Novak