How NC grant program helps community college students stay in school after setbacks
Lexine Merrill was studying nursing at Charlotte’s Central Piedmont Community College and working part-time at a restaurant when she suddenly found herself with $1,300 in medical and car repair bills.
“I became overwhelmed and felt lost, and thought, ‘How am I going to make it?’” she said.
Merrill is one of 149 students at CPCC — and hundreds more statewide — who has benefited from Gov. Roy Cooper’s Finish Line Grants program, which helps community college students overcome temporary financial setbacks.
This week the program reached a milestone. It has awarded more than 3,000 grants amounting to $2 million since the program was started in 2018.
“As students at our community colleges work hard to get skills that will help them find a job, an unforeseen challenge like a car repair shouldn’t compromise their futures,” Cooper said this week at CPCC. “I’m proud that the Finish Line Grants program has provided more than 3,000 grants to help students find good-paying jobs to support themselves and their families for years to come.”
CPCC alone has handed out 227 grants worth $167,000. (Students can receive multiple grants of up to $1,000 per semester.) The money goes directly to the car repair shop, medical provider or other vendor. Students are eligible if they’ve finished 50% of the work toward their degree.
One grant went to David Florez. He had car repair bills in addition to family medical bills when he applied for and won a grant.
“These grant funds gave me peace of mind,” he said at a news conference. “Instead of having to pick up extra shifts at work… I could relax a little bit and pay more attention to my studies.
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 11:59 AM.
