West Windsor, N.J. - Although the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of its annual awards event this year, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) nonetheless handed out its 2020 honors on Oct. 1, and Mercer County Community College (MCCC) is one of the organizations receiving accolades.

MCCC received the NJBIA’s Award for Excellence for Community Service for its quick action this past spring to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus by manufacturing thousands of medical-grade face shields; organizing a food and clothing drive that helped 430 Trenton-area families hit hard by the pandemic; holding its first-ever employment fair to in response to the economic collapse; and launching its new Business Resource Center, offering low- to no-cost workforce development opportunities to local businesses. The college also established a partnership with TDI Connect to distribute free computers to students who otherwise had no internet access, so they could continue their studies remotely. 

NJBIA’s award announcement read, in part: “When the pandemic hit, Mercer County Community College wasn’t the only organization that had to pivot to continue to fulfill its mission, but not many institutions have delivered the same kind of results for their communities.” 

“I am incredibly proud of the students, staff, faculty and friends of MCCC who continue to honor our commitment to our communities,” said MCCC President Jianping Wang. “In spite of the unprecedented challenges in front of us, Mercer will continue to be the beacon of hope and resource center for our communities.”

Employment losses meant that many of MCCC’s 11,000 students would have to defer or give up their studies, as many of them are economically challenged. In response, MCCC’s student activities budget was repurposed to help provide food, shelter, childcare and transportation for needy students. 

The face shield project was an effort by students and faculty in the college’s Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory, with the help of a contribution from the Tuchman Foundation. The lab’s 3-D printers and high-speed, computerized manufacturing machines were used to keep pace with the extraordinary demand during the first phase of the pandemic. The face shields produced were distributed to all local hospitals, the Mercer County Office of Emergency Management, senior living facilities, grocery stores and the Mercer County Correction Center.

Established in 1966, Mercer County Community College (MCCC) is a publicly supported comprehensive educational institution that provides opportunities for higher education through an open-door admission policy. MCCC is home to 70 associate degree programs and numerous credit and noncredit certificate programs. The college also offers many educational experiences, leadership opportunities and the chance to interact with other students and faculty/staff members in an informal setting.

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MCCC's food and clothing drive in June helped 430 Trenton families while serving as a pop-up shop to help locals fill out census forms, college applications and applications for CARES Act relief funds.