WINTERVILLE — A new financial aid program has made higher education more affordable for North Carolina residents, and there’s still time for prospective Pitt Community College students to apply for funding for the upcoming fall semester.
Announced earlier this year, the Next NC Scholarship helps most North Carolinians from households with an adjusted gross income equal to or less than $80,000 pursue a higher education by fully covering tuition and fees at PCC and other public colleges in the state.
The best part, according to PCC Director of Recruitment and First-Year Experience John Carrere, is that, in most cases, accessing this support is easy.
“Pitt Community College students who are approved for the Next NC Scholarship will receive at least the base guarantee of $3,000 per academic year, which essentially means they can pursue a college credential for free,” Carrere said. “Along with tuition and fees, students can use their funding to pay for books, food and housing.”
The Next NC Scholarship combines the federal Pell Grant with a state-funded financial aid program to form a simplified and predictable scholarship award that’s easier to understand and makes education more affordable. The State of North Carolina committed nearly $180 million of financial aid to the scholarship program to help a greater number of Tar Heel residents pursue degrees.
“It’s important to note that students with significant financial need could qualify for even more funding than the guaranteed $3,000 to help make paying for college more manageable,” Carrere said. “The Next NC Scholarship allows North Carolina residents to better determine their life’s journey by providing them an opportunity to pursue the degree they need for the career they want.”
To receive the Next NC Scholarship at PCC, students must be:
A North Carolina resident eligible for in-state tuitionA high school graduate (or high school equivalency completer)From a household with an annual adjusted gross income of $80,000 or lessEnrolled in an eligible curriculum program for the 2024-25 academic yearTaking at least six credit hours per semester (part-time students receive partial awards)Meeting satisfactory academic progress standardsA student who has completed the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA), with a resulting student aid index at or below 7,500 (PCC’s financial aid office will determine and confirm eligibility).
“Students ready to apply for the Next NC Scholarship can get the ball rolling by completing and submitting a FAFSA,” Carrere said. “If they’re eligible, they’ll receive the scholarship. There are no additional forms that they’ll need to fill out, but applicants with questions are encouraged to connect with our Financial Aid office for support.”
More information and complete details on the Next NC Scholarship are available at www.nextncscholarship.org. Students may also email pccrecruitment@my.pittcc.edu with questions about the program.
Parents can still explore summer camp options for kids
PCC is reminding local parents that there are still opportunities for their children to participate in the college’s Explore Summer Camps.
PCC Explore Camp Coordinator Lisa Webb says that in the coming weeks, the college will offer camps on 3D gaming, babysitting, paddleboarding and computer programming. Costs, start dates and capacities vary for each camp, and registration is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Not only are our Explore Camps educational, they give children opportunities to meet and interact with other kids from the community who share their interests,” Webb said. “A lot of the camps are career-related, too, so they teach youngsters about jobs and the skills and training needed to perform them.”
Webb says “3D Gaming with Unity” runs Aug. 5-8. The camp has two sections — one for children ages 7-10 years old in the morning and another for those 11-14 years old in the afternoon. Participants will use Unity, an industry-grade design software, to learn level editing, 3D modeling, impactful gameplay creation, and utilizing scripts and variables.
“Python Computer Programmers” is another option for kids who enjoy working with computers. Webb says the course is for children ages 11 to 14 years old and runs Aug 12-15. It teaches campers about the world’s fastest-growing programming language favored by Google, NASA, YouTube and the CIA, she says, adding that they’ll learn how to code with Python to create engaging apps and games.
“Babysitting Basics” is a two-day, 2.5-hour training course that will be offered Aug. 7-8. Webb says it was created for youngsters ages 11 to 14 and provides training for new babysitters that covers the skills they need to safely care for children of all ages. Instruction leads to a certificate and includes information on caring for infants and children, recognizing and understanding certain behaviors, responding to emergencies, and choosing age-appropriate activities.
Webb says youngsters who enjoy the outdoors may want to learn about SUP Yoga — a fusion of yoga and stand-up paddleboarding. The camp is for children ages 10 to 15 and will take place Aug. 13-15. After warming up with a yoga session on land, participants will head to the lake to learn paddleboard basics, SUP safety and anchoring/launching through customized instruction.
More information on the 2024 Explore Summer Camp lineup is available by searching “explore camps” on the PCC website (pittcc.edu). Webb says all of this year’s camps, which kicked off June 10, are led by knowledgeable instructors, including Pitt County Schools teachers, PCC faculty and respected professionals from the community.
To submit completed camp registration forms and payment, parents must contact Webb at 493-7317 or lawebb292@my.pittcc.edu. They may also reach out to PCC’s Melany Ball at 493-7854 or mdball522@my.pittcc.edu.
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