Continuing Education Scholarships

The Wilson Community College Division of Continuing Education has scholarship and financial aid opportunities available to students. The scholarships and financial aid listed below are dependent on the type and length of the class, and the award criteria established by the funding agency. Eligible courses are listed under each scholarship. Funding is limited and is not guaranteed.

All scholarships require the submission of an application. Applications are available online and in the Continuing Education Office, Room B105. Incomplete and or applications received after any published due dates will not be considered for award.

The Golden LEAF Scholars Program – Two-Year Colleges

Students enrolling in Workforce Continuing Education (WCE) pathways/courses offered for 96 hours or more, and leading to a State or industry-recognized credential may be eligible to receive grants of up to $1850 annually. 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 2022-2023 fall, spring, and summer semesters.

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.

Courses eligible for Golden LEAF funding:

• Biowork Process Technician
• Cosmetology I
• EMT (Initial and Paramedic)
• Detention Officer
• Dialysis
• Fire Academy
• Nurse Aide I and II
• Pharmacy Technician
• Phlebotomy

2022-2023 Con Ed Golden Leaf Scholarship Application

State Employee’s Credit Union (SECU) Bridge to Career

The SECU Foundation has established the SECU Bridge to Career Program to help remove financial barriers for students seeking to obtain state-regulated or industry-recognized credentials through the Workforce Continuing Education Division of their local Community College that lead to sustainable wage careers within their local communities.

$500.00 scholarships are available to students during the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters. Funds may be used to cover the cost of registration, books, fees, and other supplies, with any balance reimbursed to the student.

Courses eligible for SECU funding:

• Cosmetology
• Detention Officer Certification
• Fire Fighter I and II
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Nurse Aide I and II
• Pharmacy Technician
• Phlebotomy
• Wastewater Operator
• Welding

SECU Bridge to Career Scholarship Application

Short-Term Workforce Development (STWD) Scholarships

In 2021, the General Assembly has allocated funding for the next two years to the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS) for eligible students pursuing high-demand workforce training programs within workforce pathways identified in collaboration with the Department of Commerce that lead to a State or industry-recognized credential. These funds are intended to remove access barriers to high-quality, in-demand, sustaining wage careers for North Carolinians. Through this program, each college is able to determine grant award amounts based on student needs, local industry needs, number of eligible students, and cost of the course/pathway, up to a maximum award of $750 per course. These grants help address the cost of tuition/registration fees, course fees, books, supplies, credentialing tests, transportation, childcare, and any other components of the total cost of attendance.

Students applying for this scholarship must be a resident of North Carolina and have established residency under the centralized residency determination process administered by the State Education Assistance Authority known as the NC Residency Determination Service (RDS). Applicants can complete the residency determination process at CFNC. Applicants will be required to have an RDN number at the time of registration.

Courses eligible for STWD funding:

• Cosmetology
• Detention Officer Certification
• Fire Fighter I and II
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Nurse Aide I and II
• Pharmacy Technician
• Phlebotomy
• Wastewater Operator
• Welding

STWD Scholarship Application

Workforce Resilience Grant Program (GEER II)

Under the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER Fund), the U.S. Department of Education awards grants to Governors to provide local educational agencies (LEAs), institutions of higher education (IHEs), and other education-related entities with emergency assistance due to COVID-19. Under the “Certification and Agreement for Funding under the Education Stabilization Fund Program Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund” (CFDA Numbers: 84.425C), the Governor of NC established the Workforce Resilience Grant for eligible NC Community College students.

This grant is awarded to eligible community college students pursuing high-demand workforce training programs within workforce pathways identified in collaboration with the Department of Commerce, leading to a State or industry-recognized credential. These funds intend to remove access barriers to high-quality, in-demand, sustaining-wage careers for North Carolinians. The college will determine grant award amounts based on student needs, local industry needs, number of eligible students, and cost of the course/pathway, up to either $750 per course or the total cost of the course fee(s) if the fee(s) exceeds $750. The scholarship program helps cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, credentialing tests, transportation, childcare, and any other components of the total cost of attendance for students. At a minimum, eligible students applying for this scholarship must be:

1) Able to attest they are a resident of North Carolina, employed in North Carolina, or intend to be employed in North Carolina.

2) Enrolling in Workforce Continuing Education (WCE) pathways/courses leading to an NC Workforce Credential identified as either Essential or Career level. These pathways may consist of a single WCE course or a series of courses.

Courses eligible for GEER funding:

• Detention Officer Certification
• Fire Fighter I and II
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Nurse Aide I and II
• Pharmacy Technician
• Phlebotomy
• Wastewater Operator
• Welding