Silverberg Excellence Grant Enables More Laptop Lending
2/17/2021
This year's $8,000 allocation for the Silverberg Excellence Grant will buy laptops to lend to students who don't have their own computers for online learning.
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The generosity and mission of the late Jane Silverberg continues to help students, especially those who have additional needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. All of this year's allocation for the Silverberg Excellence Grant, more than $8,000, will buy laptops to lend to students who don't have their own computers for online learning.
"I know my mother would be so pleased to continue her commitment and legacy for giving to St. Petersburg College, especially in such a time of need," said Terri Gross, Silverberg's daughter. "This year's grant combines her passion for empowering students, and her shared vision with the college that technology is the key to the future."
Silverberg, a public school teacher, entrepreneur, civil rights activist and philanthropist, passed away in December. She and her late husband, Donald, were longtime supporters of St. Petersburg College. In 1982, they established the Silverberg Endowment for Academic Excellence to help support, enrich and develop programs that benefit SPC, its students, and the broader community. In 2017, Jane Silverberg designated $150,000 to establish the Silverberg Endowment for Academic Excellence and the Silverberg Community Center at the college's Bay Pines STEM campus.
Since the pandemic moved classes online and limited access to computer labs and other technology hubs, SPC has loaned laptops to more than 160 students. They are also checking out web cameras and Wi-Fi hot spots, said Gwen Hicks, who oversees the laptop lending program.
"Just this week alone I had 25 requests for laptops," she said. When students get a laptop to use for the semester, they are relieved. "I've had students who were panicked. A lady came in yesterday because her own laptop was broken and she wasn't able to get it fixed or purchase one. When she became familiar with the (loaned) computer she was pretty much ecstatic."
