Students attending Northland Pioneer College are taking advantage of the grant and scholarship offerings provided by the NPC Friends & Family, according to Director Betsyann Wilson, who provided an update on the funding dispersed by the organization to the Navajo County Community College District Governing Board Dec. 20.
The total amount awarded for the 2016-17 academic year to date was $33,810, but that amount is expected to grow to $48,300 by the end of May. This is a dramatic increase since Wilson took over operations just a few years ago when the highest annual disbursement was $4,498 by fall 2014.
The board attributed the increase to Wilson’s dedication to helping students remove the financial burden that could keep them from getting their education.
“What you’ve done in the last couple of years is a significant difference,” noted Chairwoman Ginny Handorf.
The grant and scholarship offerings include $500 for students who are ineligible for financial aid through the federal Pell grant, and another $500 for students who are eligible for a Pell grant. Other scholarships assist students with tuition, books and course fees, with 34 students receiving $30,000 in such funds last spring. Other offerings include a nursing scholarship, a pharmaceutical tech grant and even High School Equivalency grants for students who need to obtain their GED.
In tracking the recipients of the funds, Wilson told the board, “Each of the grant or scholarship recipients since 2014 completed the semester they were enrolled in.” In addition, she explained that 22 of those have completed their degree and more than 61 are still enrolled at NPC.
Wilson also noted that all fall 2016 awardees completed the semester with an average 3.4 grade point average and that since the fall of 2014, the average GPA of awardees is 3.33.
Board member George Joe inquired as to the demographics of those receiving scholarships.
“We offer one to two scholarships to each campus and center. If we have no applicants for one of the scholarships and multiple applicants at another campus, it may go to that campus,” said Wilson. NPC has nine locations, including Holbrook, Winslow, Show Low, Snowflake/Taylor, Hopi, Whiteriver. Kayenta, Springerville/Eagar and St. Johns.
