In an ongoing commitment to student success, the College of Lake County (CLC) Foundation hosted a Laptop Giveaway Event on April 9, where 50 pre-selected students received laptops and backpacks donated by Meridian Group International, Inc.

This marks the latest in a series of donations made by Meridian Group International, Inc. to the CLC Foundation, including past contributions of laptops and backpacks. Each year, these donations aim to support students in their educational journey, empowering them to engage in coursework and pursue their career goals.

“This generous gift from Meridian Group International is more than a donation—it’s an investment in our students’ futures and in the strength of our local workforce,” said Leigh Ann Jacobson, executive director and chief development officer of the CLC Foundation. “By donating 50 laptops, Meridian is removing a critical barrier to education for so many who are working hard to build better lives for themselves and their families. Meridian has proven to be a valued partner in our shared mission to create equitable access to education and opportunity.”

“We are honored to partner with CLC in its mission to offer educational opportunities and access to a diverse student population. Inspiring adult learners to enter into life-changing educational and career opportunities is at the heart of what CLC does,” said Jeff Murray, CEO of Meridian Group International, Inc. “Providing technology to students that enables them to participate fully in the educational process and further partnering through our internship program with CLC stands at the very heart of our organization—partnering with and investing in higher education to build a brighter future for our community.”

Both CLC and Meridian Group International, Inc. had members of their tech support teams onsite to assist students in setting up their new devices, ensuring a smooth and seamless transition for academic use.

Students like Adam Ciesielski, a nursing student, expressed sincere gratitude for the support: "I'm very grateful to the CLC Foundation and Meridian Group International. My laptop recently broke, so I was relying on public resources like the library or my parents. In the nursing program, so much of our work is online. This gift makes things easier and takes a lot of stress off. I'm truly appreciative."

“We’re deeply grateful for Meridian’s continued support and their belief in the power of education to transform communities,” Jacobson said.

About College of Lake County

College of Lake County is a comprehensive community college committed to equitable high-quality education, cultural enrichment and partnerships to advance the diverse communities it serves in northeastern Illinois. Offered at three campuses in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Waukegan or online, college classes are affordable and accessible to help each student achieve academic, career and personal goals. The college opened an Advanced Technology Center in Gurnee in 2022 and Prairie Restaurant at Brae Loch in 2023. The College of Lake County is a national leader in many areas, including sustainability and conservation. Call (847) 543-2000 to learn more.

About College of Lake County Foundation

The College of Lake County Foundation inspires philanthropic giving to support student scholarships, college programs and capital projects that create life-changing opportunities for Lake County residents. Learn more at www.clcillinois.edu/foundation

About Meridian Group International, Inc.

Meridian Group International, Inc. (MGI) is an award-winning MSP focused on Infrastructure and Platform Solutions and Services for premise-based, private and hybrid cloud hosting for x86 and IBM Power environments. A solutions provider offering a full spectrum of IT infrastructure, platform, contact center, and security solutions that help businesses thrive. To learn more about the company and how our solutions help businesses solve problems, visit www.themeridian.com or contact us at contactme@themeridian.com