(Photo by: Susan McSpadden)
Story by Justin Prowell
As students, many know that costs for classes, fees, books and all the miscellaneous stuff can add up. Some will take on loans to pay back after graduation. Others will be eligible for grants due to specific circumstances, or awards for specific achievement in extracurricular activities or clubs.
But what about those who weren’t in sports or have gaps in their educational journey?
“Here at JCCC, we are so fortunate that we have so many different scholarship opportunities… many donors, [and] a lot of community support that want our students to succeed,” said Ashley Jost, Supervisor of Financial Aid Scholarship Communication & Outreach.
People, as individuals or organizations, donate their money for our education. They are willing to invest in us, the emerging workforce of tomorrow.
“Scholarships help [students] complete that associate’s degree or certificate. That absolutely impacts every corner of our workforce,” said Kate Allen, Vice President of College Advancement and Government Affairs.
Along with having an impact on the workforce, Jost explains that these scholarships can have a tremendous impact on student success.
“[Scholarships are] almost like a bright light to help somebody continue on and know that there is hope, and there’s possibility, and that scholarship is just a way of affirming that for people,” Jost said.
At JCCC and most colleges, you begin by completing a FAFSA form, which is done annually and determines your student loan qualifications. At JCCC, it will also help make you automatically eligible for those scholarships you qualify for.
After completion, the next step is to fill out and submit the general scholarship application.
Along with the FAFSA, there are other options for finding available scholarships.
Colleges and universities usually have multiple sources for donations toward student assistance. One avenue is through a foundation. They raise money for student support through fundraising events and community outreach. Our foundation is one of JCCC’s main sources of student scholarships.
Some other scholarship websites include:
Some applications will require an essay or other work to qualify. Although some scholarships come with more work, many students believe it is worth it.
If you have any questions about financial aid or scholarships, the Financial Aid Office is located in the Student Success Center. It can be found to the right of the counseling office on the second floor of the Student Center.
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