A nursing student’s car trouble sparked a campus-wide collaboration, showcasing the college’s commitment to removing barriers to success.
When a Glen Oaks Community College nursing student found herself facing a serious roadblock—quite literally—her car needed repairs she couldn’t afford. Without reliable transportation, her ability to attend classes and clinicals was suddenly in jeopardy.
That’s when GOCC nursing instructor Melissa Blair stepped in, reaching out to the Glen Oaks Community College Foundation for help.
What followed was a shining example of how Glen Oaks comes together to support student success. Melissa connected with Jim Deroshia, automotive instructor at GOCC, to see if the issue could be resolved right on campus. The answer was a resounding yes. Melissa then contacted the Foundation to discuss how the student might receive financial assistance.
Jim was able to purchase the needed parts at cost, and his automotive students made the repairs—right in the GOCC shop. There was no out-of-pocket cost for the student, and the entire effort served as a real-world learning experience for the automotive class. “It’s a win-win,” said Vonda Marrow, Executive Director of the GOCC Foundation. “The student gets the help they need to stay on the path to completion, and our automotive students gain meaningful, hands-on experience while supporting their peers.”
This kind of barrier-breaking isn’t new to the Glen Oaks Foundation. During the 2024–25 academic year alone, the Foundation has used nearly $30,000 in donor-funded support to respond to student needs—ranging from housing assistance to car repairs. But this partnership with the automotive program has become one of the most tangible, practical ways to solve problems on campus.
Here’s how the process works: an advisor or faculty member identifies a need and contacts the Foundation. The Foundation gathers information and authorizes the expense. Jim and his students assess the repair, provide the parts at cost, and complete the work. The Foundation then covers the invoice.
“In the end, it’s really about keeping students moving forward,” said Marrow. “College is hard enough. If we can remove just one barrier—one brake job or one battery replacement—we’ll do it. Because it matters.”
With three students already assisted through the automotive program in the past two years, the collaboration is gaining momentum. And perhaps most meaningful of all is the spirit behind the work: students helping students, faculty stepping up, and a campus that asks “How can we help?”—then makes it happen.
At Glen Oaks, this isn’t just about fixing cars. It’s about fixing what gets in the way.
