Free Tuition at Durham Technical Community College

 

North Carolina high school grads can take two years of classes at Durham Tech tuition-free

Students who graduate from a North Carolina high school this year or who graduated from a North Carolina high school in 2021 can attend Durham Tech this fall tuition free.

Durham Tech will cover the full cost of tuition for 2021 and 2022 NC high school graduates classified as North Carolina residents by the Residency Determination Service (RDS) who enroll for the Fall 2022 semester. Eligibility extends to high school equivalency earners, those who complete an Adult High School diploma and those who are home-schooled.

The Durham Tech tuition-free initiative is a scholarship supplement to the North Carolina Longleaf Commitment Grant, which covers tuition based on family income. The College will provide 2022 graduates a last-dollar scholarship for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years to bridge the gap and fully pay for tuition not covered by federal Pell grants or the Longleaf Commitment, Durham Tech Promise, and other funds. Students may be responsible for course-related materials if not covered by financial aid.

Eligibility Requirements

• Graduate from a North Carolina high school or earn a high school equivalency in 2021 or 2022.
  
• Be admitted to a Durham Tech credit program;
  
• Be a first-time college student. Students who participated in Career and College Promise and Early/Middle College High School are eligilble;
  
• Complete the 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (Durham Tech’s school code is 005448.);
  
• Be a resident of North Carolina as determined by the Residency Determination Service (RDS);
  
• Enroll in a curriculum program during the Fall 2022 semester;
  
• Enroll in at least six credit hours;
  
• Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from $0 - $15,000.  (“EFC” is based upon student’s FAFSA determination) 
  
• Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement.

Free Summer Grant Program

A new Summer Accelerator grant program allows eligible Durham Tech students to continue their studies over Summer 2022 and Summer 2023 for free. The grant provides up to $5,000 to cover tuition, fees, books, and other expenses based on the number of summer courses a student is taking.  

To be eligible, students must meet the following requirements: 

• A North Carolina resident 
• Enrolled in an academic program leading to a postsecondary degree or credential 
• Working towards their first postsecondary degree or credential 

Eligible students for these grants will receive notification from the Durham Tech Financial Aid Office.

Have a question?

Complete the contact form to ask questions or learn more.

Contact Us

COLLEGE PREP SCHOLARS PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS

 The 2023 College Prep Scholars Program application opens in early February, and the deadline is March 22, 2023.

The 2023 College Prep Scholars Program application opens in early February. Sign up to be notified when the application opens >>

Applying to college can seem daunting, and the prospect of paying for it can seem even more overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. The College Prep Scholars Program equips high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds (Academically outstanding high school juniors from families earning less than $65,000/year for a family of four.) with the knowledge, confidence, and resources to apply to top colleges.

Why apply as a junior? Being a College Prep Scholar is a notable distinction that shows our college partners that you are a competitive candidate for admission. In addition, your application will automatically carry over for the National College Match when you’re a senior, giving you a head start on applying for a full four-year scholarship to our college partners. College Prep Scholars are over five times more likely than other applicants to receive full four-year scholarships through the National College Match.

Duke Ophthalmic Technician Program Virtual Information Session

                                                                    

INFORMATION SESSION DETAILS: Wednesday, February 8, 2023 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. VIA Zoom/Facebook Live REGISTER

PROGRAM BENEFITS: No college degree or prerequisites required 12 mo program (total) 9 mo hands clinical rotations Starting pay $22-$24/hr 90% employment rate after program completion Affordable tuition Financial aid is available

Ophthalmic Technicians (OpTechs) work closely with ophthalmologists, who are specialty eye doctors, to assist in caring for patients with eye diseases or injuries. An OpTech holds many important roles in an ophthalmology practice to prepare a patient to see their eye doctor.

Visit the website

THE OBAMA-CHESKY SCHOLARSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE

The Voyager Scholarship for Public Service helps connect college students with financial aid, meaningful travel experiences, and a network of mentors. Check out the incredible work that has already been seen from the first class of Voyager scholarship recipients.

Right now, the Obama Foundation is looking for rising juniors based here in the United States who are interested in pursuing a career in public service.

So take a look at the message from Valerie below. If it describes you, you should consider applying. If it describes someone you know, please encourage them to learn more and apply before March 22.

Together, we can help more students get the education and experiences that can
change lives—and the world around us.

USN A Guide to Historically Black Colleges and Universities

 

Read the full article HERE

HBCUs typically charge lower tuition and provide Black students with a sense of belonging, experts say.

By Sarah Wood

|

Jan. 13, 2023, at 2:01 p.m.

There's been a resurgence of student interest in attending historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, which experts say is due to a variety of social, cultural and political factors.

After the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black Americans at the hands of police – which sparked protests and a racial reckoning across the U.S. in 2020 – "many students started to feel a little bit insecure about their surroundings and their environment," says Carl B. Goodman, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Bowie State University, an HBCU in Maryland. They "felt that HBCUs were a place where they were secure and that they were getting a family-like environment."

College Covered Planning Resources

collegecovered.com was created by Discover Student Loans to provide students and parents with the know how to plan and pay for college. The website offers a variety of resources and tips for each step of the college planning process.  

With this year's college applications wrapping up, there’s still plenty of important tasks for seniors to complete in the new year. Check out these simple tips and resources to help  students stay focused and keep the momentum going.

• Last Chance for a $5,000 Scholarship: There’s still time for students and parents to enter the Discover^® Student Loans Scholarship to help cover college expenses. No lengthy application or essay required. Our current sweepstakes ends January 31, 2023¹.

• College Planning Calendar: Share this monthly checklist with students and parents to help them stay on top of upcoming deadlines and to-dos.

• How I Won Over $1 Million in Scholarships for College: It’s a great time to be applying for scholarships. Learn how a high school student won more than enough money to pay for college and how he helps other students do the same.

Meredith College Leadership Conference for High School Juniors

Meredith College is pleased to bring back their on-campus leadership conference for high school juniors who are interested in developing and sharpening their leadership skills. The Meredith College Office of Student Leadership and Service, in conjunction with the Office of Admissions, will host this free conference on Saturday, February 11, 2023.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

9:15 - 9:45 a.m. Check-in and Breakfast 10:00 - 10:30 a.m.  Opening Session; Welcome 10:40 – 11:30 a.m. Leadership Session, Topic 1 11:40 a.m. – 1:40 p.m. Lunch & Leadership 1:50 – 2:40 p.m. Leadership Session, Topic 2 2:50 – 3:15 p.m.         Closing Session 3:15 – 4:00 p.m. Campus Tour (optional)

Registration is now open. If you have students who may benefit from this event, please encourage registration by Sunday, February 5, 2023.  

Please call the Office of Admissions at 1-800-MEREDITH or e-mail us at admissions@meredith.edu with any questions.

UNC Catalyst Conference

The Catalyst Conference, us a UNC Chapel Hill organization that hosts an engaging weekend conference for high school students to learn about social justice and college life while participating in workshops, activities, and hearing from speakers. 

There will be students from throughout North Carolina. It will be a fun weekend and a great opportunity to meet more people! The link to our application is also attached below and the application deadline is Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 11:59pm; the conference itself will be hosted from Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 19, 2023. Full and partial scholarships are readily available to ALL students, so anyone is welcome to participate. 

You can apply at the following link: https://go.unc.edu/CatalystConference2023 

If you have any questions regarding the Catalyst Conference or the application process, please reach out to us at unccatalyst@gmail.com, check out our website at https://unccatalyst.web.unc.edu, or follow us on Instagram at @unccatalyst. 

Clemson C-CATS for High Achieving 9th and 10th Grade Students

 

Spend the weekend exploring Clemson University and building friendships with other top-performing students.

Clemson’s Challenge for Academically Talented Students (C-CATS) recruits top students from SC, NC and GA to participate in high-powered weekend retreats. Through team-building and academic sessions, students gain leadership skills, make lasting friendships, and improve their ability to think clearly and perform under pressure, all while having the time of their lives!

Participants are nominated by their school counselor.  Please Contact Jill O'Kane for more information.

2023 Spring Dates

• Session 1: Mar 3 - 5
• Session 2: Mar 10 - 12
• Session 3: Mar 31 - April 2
• Session 4: April 14 - 16
• Session 5: April 21 - 23
• Session 6: April 28 - 30
• Session 7: May 5 - 7

https://c-cats.org/

North Carolina Governor's School

The North Carolina Governor's School is a four-week summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses on each of two campuses. Learning focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline, and it does not involve credit, tests, or grades. Students are selected to attend through a competitive process after being nominated by their public school unit or non-public school. Pleas see the Family Overview documents below. Current Juniors can apply for Academic Discipline Nominations. Sophomores and Juniors may apply in the Art Disciplines.

Please see the NC Governors School Website:  HERE

Or contact Jill O'Kane, VAHS Counselor jokane@voyageracademy.net for more information.

A limited number of nominations from VAHS are available. Completed Applications must be summitted to Ms. O'Kane by Friday December 2, 2022 in order to be considered for the VAHS nomination.      

BigFuture: Real Talk: Career Fair for Black Students

 

What is Real Talk?

Real Talk is a virtual college exploration initiative designed to connect Black students and families with Black representatives from colleges and access organizations across the country. We empower Black students to own their futures their way.

Sometimes young people need to see someone like themselves succeed to believe they can too. Representation matters! That’s why Real Talk is excited to host our first set of career events this month, featuring young Black professionals in the tech, sports, and entertainment industries. Students will be exposed to new career paths and receive advice on how they can achieve success wherever they land.

Start Planning for Your Future

Real Talk is a safe space for you to learn and engage, while also getting answers to your most pressing questions about life after high school. No matter where you are on your journey, we’re here for you. Family members and educators are also encouraged to participate!

Check out the VIDEO

RSVP For events HERE!

Fall 2022 Virtual Events

HBCU Edition

Connect with Black HBCU representatives over two nights.

Night 1: Wednesday, September 28, at 7 p.m. ET

Night 2: Thursday, September 29, at 7 p.m. ET

NY Careers Edition

Connect with Black professionals about their journeys to success.

Black in Tech: Tuesday, October 11, at 7 p.m. ET

Black in Sports: Thursday, October 13, at 7 p.m. ET

Black in Entertainment: Tuesday, October 18, at 7 p.m. ET

Paying for College Edition

Connect with Black financial aid experts about FAFSA, scholarships and more.

Night 1: Wednesday, November 2, at 7 p.m. ET

Night 2: Wednesday, November 9, at 7 p.m. ET

HOBY Youth Leadership for Outstanding Sophomores!

Registration is now OPEN for the 2023 State Seminar Season! 

Since 1958, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) has provided transformative leadership development training that has positively impacted the lives of over 500,000 high school students around the world. HIBY is looking  forward to providing VAHS students with the transformative experience of the HOBY State Leadership Seminar. 

For more than five decades, HOBY has inspired young people to make a difference and become catalysts for positive change in their home, school, workplace, and community. As America’s foremost youth leadership organization, HOBY has a long history of successfully motivating young people to develop into outstanding leaders.

Check out the HOBY Leadership Video HERE

Contact Jill O'Kane for more information or to be considered for a school nomination.

9th and 10th Grade Summer Enrichment Opportunity

 

Spend the weekend exploring Clemson University and building friendships with other top-performing students.

Clemson’s Challenge for Academically Talented Students (C-CATS) recruits top students from SC, NC and GA to participate in high-powered weekend retreats. Through team-building and academic sessions, students gain leadership skills, make lasting friendships, and improve their ability to think clearly and perform under pressure, all while having the time of their lives!

C-CATS, Clemson’s Challenge for Academically Talented Students, is a program designed for

high-achieving 9th and 10th grade students. C-CATS introduces top-ranking students to Clemson University through exciting weekend adventures that engage them in the academic, social, and recreational opportunities offered at Clemson. Over 4,500 students have participated in this program over the last decade. 

Read More HERE

Participants are nominated by their school counselor. Interested students, please contact  Contact Jill O'Kane.

NC Countdown To College

 

Residency | FAFSA | Applications

Countdown to College (C2C) supports college access every October. C2C activities help high school seniors complete three important college enrollment steps: residency, FAFSA, and applications. Many NC colleges and universities will support C2C by waiving application fees during College Application Week, October 17-21, 2022.

Check out all of the events!! 

CFNC 2022 List of Events

ECU Global Fellows Program

 

Last year, East Carolina University initiated a new program for students with an interest in culture, travel, and global issues more broadly. The program, called Global Fellows, is open to all students with a cumulative unweighted of 3.25 GPA or above. Prospective students from all majors can apply.

The program includes a $1,500 study abroad scholarship, and targeted programming designed to build intercultural skills and a strong resume. As first year students Global Fellows will live in a designated residence hall with others in their cohort. First semester they will take a specialized freshman seminar course and in their second semester they will take one of ECU’s award-winning Global Understanding courses, which will allow them to connect and interact virtually with students from 2-3 universities abroad during the semester.

We also provide students with an internationally focused Career Preparation Series in conjunction with ECU’s Career Services office and multiple resume building opportunities through special internships, on-campus employment opportunities, and internationally-focused student organizations.

If any of your students may be interested in this program, please direct them to the Global Fellows website at: https://global-affairs.ecu.edu/global-fellows/. The application for the program can be found at: https://ecu.academicworks.com/opportunities/22516.  The deadline to apply for the Global Fellows program is January 15th.