CT State Community College Manchester Receives $1M Gift To Support Paralegal Students

MANCHESTER, CT – CT State Community College Manchester and the Manchester Community College Foundation Thursday announced the "commitment" of a $1 million gift from the estate of Thomas F. Goldman to support its paralegal program.

The gift will be used to establish an endowed fund that will provide scholarships and support internships for CT State Manchester's paralegal students seeking to supplement classroom learning with real-world experience, officials said.

The $1 million represents the second significant gift from Goldman’s estate designated for CT State Manchester students.It follows a $500,000 donation to establish a scholarship fund for English as a Second Language learners.

"Attorney Goldman’s research on the use of technology for paralegal work in law offices and his textbooks revolutionized the teaching of paralegal studies. Its implications are still relevant to today's paralegal students,” said Dr. Nicole Esposito, the campus CEO of CT State Manchester. "This generous gift will help to ensure that our paralegal students are relieved of financial burdens so they can focus on being fully prepared when they graduate, allowing them to flourish throughout their careers."

While many paralegal program students also pursue internship opportunities, some are unable to engage in this type of experiential learning because many internships are unpaid.

"Stipends from this new fund will help to support expenses for students who undertake unpaid internships, giving them real-world experience within the profession and helping them to establish a network of professional colleagues, something that first- generation college students lack," Manchester Community College Foundation President Peter Grose said. CT State Manchester was formerly known as Manchester Community College and the foundation kept its original name.

Nearly 70 percent of students in the CT State system are first-generation college students, officials said.

Goldman is a former professor of law and management, and director of the Center for Legal Studies and the paralegal studies program at Bucks County Community College. He has made significant contributions to legal education. He developed the advanced litigation support and technology certificate program at Thomas Edison State College and authored numerous textbooks used in paralegal studies, including some used in CT State Manchester's paralegal program.

The trustees of Thomas Goldman's estate "hope to honor Goldman’s legacy and commitment to the paralegal profession by creating a lasting impact on students pursuing paralegal careers," college officials said.

CT State Manchester offers an associate degree program in paralegal studies, and a paralegal certificate program designed for students who will concurrently receive an associate or baccalaureate degree in a major other than paralegal or legal studies from an accredited institution.

The CT State paralegal program is approved by the American Bar Association.