Events
NC Governor Highlights Community College Completion at Southern Wake Campus
Roy Cooper Announces Grant Program to Help Students Graduate
RALEIGH, N.C. (July 12, 2018) - The focus was on the “finish line,” as Governor Roy Cooper visited Wake Tech’s Southern Wake Campus today. Governor Cooper announced the Finish Line grants program to help community college students who face unexpected financial emergencies complete their education. The program will leverage up to $7 million in federal funds to help students pay for course materials, housing, medical needs, dependent care, or other financial emergencies.
“We know far too many students cite challenges other than academic reasons for not finishing school, and this program will help ensure more people can finish their training and get a good-paying job to support themselves and their families,” said Governor Cooper.
Grants will be available for the 2018-2019 academic year. The program is open to every community college in North Carolina. Students who have completed 75 percent of their degree or credential may be eligible to receive up to $1,000 per semester by contacting their community colleges’ financial aid office or their local NCWorks Career Center.
“Many community college students juggle work, family, and life, so financial emergencies can bring their school work to a halt,” said Peter Hans, president of the North Carolina Community College System. “A Finish Line grant could make all the difference in helping a student complete their degree or credential.”
Adam Leach, a recent Wake Tech graduate, benefitted from a program similar to Finish Line and is now working as a nurse.
“My wife and I were struggling financially and I needed help paying for my final two semesters. The completion scholarship was a lifeline. Without it I would never have graduated,” said Leach. “Now I am an RN at WakeMed in Raleigh, and my wife is a radiography technician. We made it!”
The Finish Line grants program will boost current efforts to help students who face unforeseen obstacles. Wake Tech and other community colleges administer emergency grants and completion scholarships that have helped thousands of students reach their educational goals.
