The Golden LEAF Scholars Program – Two-Year Colleges will provide grants of up to $2,250 annually for curriculum students and up to $1850 annually for workforce continuing education students. The scholarships help cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, credentialing tests, transportation, childcare and other components of the total cost of attendance for the award year.
Student Eligibility Requirements
Eligible students must (1) be a North Carolina resident, (2) demonstrate financial need and (3) reside in a rural county that is tobacco dependent, or economically distressed, as determined by the Golden LEAF Foundation. A scholarship recipient who resides in an eligible county upon initial award will retain eligibility and will be eligible for renewal awards as long as the student’s place of residence is within the state of North Carolina.
Eligible students may receive an award each year. Financial aid offices will determine their application procedures for receiving awards for subsequent terms. Selected students will be required to disclose all financial aid awards as dictated by college financial aid offices for award packaging. Golden LEAF Scholarships will not displace federal grants, e.g. Pell grants, for which the student may be eligible (may displace loan funds).
Curriculum Student Selection Criteria
Eligible students must:
- Be enrolled at least full-time for fall and spring; Summer school students must be enrolled at least 6 credit hours. Grants for less-than-full-time students will be prorated based on hours of enrollment and pending availability of funds
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
- Be a resident of North Carolina
- Reside in a rural county that is tobacco dependent, or economically distressed, as determined by the Golden LEAF Foundation (Rural counties include: Rutherford, Polk, and Cleveland).
Workforce Continuing Education Student Eligibility
Eligible students must:
- (Resident of North Carolina
- Students enrolling in Workforce Continuing Education (WCE) pathways/courses offered for 96 hours or more and leading to a State or industry-recognized credential. These pathways may consist of a single WCE course or a series of courses.
- Eligibility criteria for students include:
- is unemployed.
- has received notification of a pending layoff;
- is working and is eligible for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (FEITC); or
- is working and earning wages at or below two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Reside in a rural county that is tobacco dependent, or economically distressed, as determined by the Golden LEAF Foundation (Rural counties include: Rutherford, Polk, and Cleveland).
***Should a student become ineligible to use any semester’s scholarship award, those funds will be awarded to other qualified students within the same institution.
Other WCE Student Selection Considerations
Applicants will be selected based on financial need and county of residence. Other selection factors may include:
- The effect of the declining economy on his or her family.
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- Owner of or employed in farming/agriculture business
- Owner of or employed in traditional industries (such as textile or furniture manufacturing)
- Household member lost their job or has gone from full-time to part-time employment
- Academic performance
- Campus activities and community service
Scholarship Awarding Format Sample:
Colleges may select students to receive up to $2,250 in awards annually. For example, if a student receives $2,250, funds will be awarded up to $1,125 for the fall and $1,125 for the spring. Summer awards are based on the availability of funding after the spring semester. The scholarship may be renewed for one year, if the student meets eligibility criteria. If the student fails to enroll, those remaining funds may be awarded to another student. Grants for less-than-full-time students will be prorated based on hours of enrollment and pending availability of funds. For example, if a student is awarded $2,250 for the fall and spring, but enrolls for only halftime for the spring semester, the award will be prorated for the spring to $563. The remaining $562 may be awarded to another student.
Application Process
- The System Office will promote and market the scholarship among the local community colleges to help the students understand and recognize the mission of Golden LEAF. A marketing and publicity plan approved by the Foundation will include the scholarship notification letter sent to each scholar.
- Students will complete the Golden LEAF Scholars Program – Two-year Colleges application for the targeted academic year. Applications will be filed with the college financial aid offices or Workforce Continuing Education departments.
- Timing for the selection process is determined by the award policies and procedures of each college. Financial aid offices will work with Workforce Continuing Education departments to determine the awards periods for those students.
- Applicants bear full responsibility for completing the Golden LEAF application prior to each deadline.
- Financial aid offices will disburse awards.
- Financial aid offices will provide a list of selected recipients including name, amount, address, counties, email, and use of funds to NCCCS.
This program is funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation.
