Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced the new Awake58 Fellows program, an initiative to promote Finish Line Grants on North Carolina community college campuses. Awake58 fellows will encourage their eligible peers to apply for Finish Line Grants to cover costs that might otherwise force them to drop out of school.
“Finish Line Grants have helped hundreds of North Carolina community college students facing unexpected financial emergencies stay in school so they can finish their studies and get a good job,” Gov. Cooper said. “We want students across the state to know this help is available, and these new student ambassadors will help us spread the word.”
Offered in partnership by the North Carolina Community College System and EducationNC, Awake58 Fellows will raise awareness of Finish Line Grants and encourage students to apply for them. EducationNC will train selected Awake58 Fellows to use journalism, research and community engagement to reach fellow community college students, help them learn about the Finish Line Grants program and encourage them to apply if needed.
Through a grant from the Belk Endowment, EducationNC will fund up to 20 Awake58 Fellows to begin three-month fellowships this spring. Nine community colleges have selected applicants in good academic standing to serve as Fellows on their campuses. Fellows will receive a $1,000 stipend and professional networking experience for their work to expand the use of Finish Line Grants.
Last year, Gov. Cooper created the Finish Line Grants program to help community college students cover unforeseen expenses and complete their training. To date, hundreds of Finish Line Grants have been distributed to students across North Carolina.
To help even more North Carolinians complete their degrees, Gov. Cooper has proposed expanding the Finish Line Grants program to include students at all North Carolina colleges and universities. Gov. Cooper’s latest budget proposal recommends $15 million in total for grants to students at community colleges, UNC System schools and private colleges and universities.
The Finish Line Grants program uses funds from the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to help community college students cover unforeseen financial emergencies like medical needs, car repairs and childcare so they can complete their training. Community college students can apply for Finish Line Grants of up to $1,000 per semester through their community college financial aid office or their local NCWorks Career Center.
For more information about Finish Line Grants, click HERE.