Texas College grant directors accepting the check from the East Texas Communities Foundation. Pictured from left to right are Dr. Emmanuel Ngwang, Professor of English and Director of the Quality Enhancement Plan; Mrs. Linda Simmons-Henry, Director of Library Services; and Dr. Ray McDonald, Division Chair of Business and Social Sciences.

Texas College recently received a $20,000 grant from the East Texas Communities Foundation that will fund the development of four library initiatives related to writing.

As part of the initiative, a writer-in-residence and local creative writers will provide creative workshops and seminars. The local Tyler and campus communities will participate through attending these workshops, writing contests and by submitting works of literature for a journal that will be published. The grant will also support new initiatives for the development and production of a new library writing website that will showcase students’ writing and research skills.

The areas of focus, which are goals of the college’s strategic plan, include having students gain a command of communication skills, both written and verbal, teaching students to become critical thinkers and providing students the knowledge to become productive citizens.

— Texas College Communications