DUBLIN – It is too often that financial emergencies such as unexpected healthcare costs or car repairs prevent community college students from completion of their studies and reaching that milestone. Last year, Governor Roy Cooper announced the Finish Line Grants program to help community college students complete their training when facing unforeseen financial challenges.
Since the announcement, community colleges and workforce development boards have collaborated to distribute grants to more than 1,700 community college students statewide. Under the guidelines, recipients must be at least halfway through their degree or credential training program to receive a maximum grant of $1,000 per semester to help overcome financial emergencies that students face through no fault of their own.
Grants are awarded through a network of regional workforce development boards across the state. For Bladen Community College, that is the Lumber River Workforce Development Board, which helps strengthen the regional workforce and provides job training in Bladen and surrounding counties.
Dr. Amanda Lee, President at Bladen Community College reported that 38 students at BCC were awarded a total of $23,851 in Finish Line Grants last year — for an average of $627.66 per recipient. Assistance was provided for a wide variety of qualifying needs, including transportation, childcare, utilities, educational costs and medical bills.
Lee said she has already received positive feedback from students who might not have been able to finish their education if it had not been for Finish Line Grants. “This funding has eliminated or significantly decreased barriers, allowing students to finish what they started,” she said. “It has allowed students the opportunity to get back to focusing on their course of studies, instead of worrying about how they will pay for unexpected expenses or emergency needs.”
Tonyese “Gia” Galloway was one of our first BCC students to receive a Finish Line Grant as she worked to complete her certificate in practical nursing. Ms.Galloway found herself getting further and further behind financially, struggling to handle mounting living and educational expenses. If it had not been for the grant, she would not have finished her coursework — but still be working to pay off her tuition bill over time. Ms. Galloway successfully completed her course work and received her practical nursing degree this summer.
When Governor Cooper’s wife, Kristin Cooper, visited our campus last spring, she was able to meet Ms. Galloway and hear firsthand her success story. Ms. Galloway took the opportunity to express her appreciation to the First Lady and give testimony to the difference it made in her achieving her goal and finishing her degree.
Students at Bladen Community College who have experienced a financial emergency or unforeseen challenge and can demonstrate a need for assistance to support continued enrollment should seek out a financial aid counselor on campus, or call 910-879-5500 or visit BCC’s website www.bladen.edu.
Related Article:
https://bladencounty.org/open-letter-nc-superintendent-of-public-instruction-announces-kindness-campaign/
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