Chris Gray, Ph.D.
Founding President, Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania
From its inception, EC3 has been rooted in the community. We exist because Erie County advocates willed us into submission, in fact. The community has stood with us, and we believe that it's important to give back. Ours is a symbiotic relationship, one in which we support each other.
Giving back to the community isn't just about doing good for others, though. It's more than that. It's about fostering connection. It's about stepping outside of our own routine and recognizing that we are all part of something bigger. And ultimately, it's about making our community stronger. After all, we are all Erie County, and we are committed to our role as the community's college.
At EC3, we've known from the first that our job is to do more than just provide education. We will never forget that we exist because of the people who believed in the need for a college right here in Erie County. Our students, faculty, staff, and administration all find ways to contribute—sometimes in small, quiet moments, and other times through larger, hands-on projects that make an immediate impact.
The students in our Construction Trades Program engaged in such a project recently, and I would like to take a few moments to sing their praises. This past fall, students in the program took what they were learning in the classroom and used it to help area animals in need. They built twelve insulated shelters for the Anna Shelter, thereby ensuring that these dogs and cats would have warm, safe spaces throughout the cold winter months. For these students, this was much more than just a class project; it was a way to apply the skills they were learning in the classroom in a meaningful way outside of it. In doing so, they also had the opportunity to give back to a community that has given so much to us.
"This project allowed our students to put their new skills to work," said Jennifer Kline, the Associate Dean of Academics. "It is always nice when classroom activities can meet and fulfill community needs as well. This project was fulfilling for many reasons, and we know they'll be put to good use."
That's what giving back does: it connects learning with purpose. It reminds us that education isn't just about what happens in the classroom; it's about how we use what we know to make a difference. And in the process, we gain something just as valuable. We walk away with a sense of fulfillment, knowing that we've left a mark—however small—on the place we call home. These students will never forget this experience.
Our Construction Trades Program continues this semester. This is a program that provides hands-on training in carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, masonry, and welding. It is designed to combine classroom instruction with real-world experience, preparing students for in-demand careers in residential and commercial construction. We can't wait to see what this next group of students will build—not just for themselves, but for the community. Because when we give back, we all grow. And when our community does better, so do we.
Our community: your college.
