From the community ~

The newly built Rivers Casino in Des Plaines has contributed $60,000 toward Oakton Community College to support the college's new Science and Health Careers Center, the school said Monday. The contribution is part of the $500,000 the casino recently awarded to 16 organizations throughout Des Plaines and the Chicagoland area.

The 93,000-square-foot Science and Health Careers Center, currently under construction, will house state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, and other teaching  facilities for the College’s anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, earth science, medical  laboratory technology, nursing, physics, and physical therapy assistant programs. Rivers Casino funds will underwrite the purchase of 12 hospital beds for the Center’s nursing lab, as well as eight motorized “high-low” treatment tables and two treatment-traction tables for the physical therapy lab. Treatment-traction tables correctly position specific body parts for appropriate therapy.

“In recent years, health career education has changed radically and enrollment in Oakton’s programs has rapidly increased,” notes Adam Hayashi, dean of Oakton’s Science and Health Careers Division. “The new Center will meet contemporary and emerging science and health career educational standards, delivering cutting-edge training for tomorrow’s health care professionals. Rivers Casino’s generous contribution will help us meet that goal, providing many more nursing and physical therapy assistant students with the opportunity to hone their skills on the highest-quality, up-to-date equipment available. We deeply appreciate the company’s commitment to Oakton – and to the larger community.”