Paying for college can be a challenge for students and their families. Add a pandemic and this challenging issue can quickly evolve into a crisis.

The good news is funding may still be available for individuals struggling to pay tuition or concerned about financing the upcoming semester. The bad news is it will take a concerted effort to research and identify eligibility factors and legitimate funding sources.

Student Jacqueline Redding experienced this firsthand. Having exhausted her financial aid funds, she applied for the Stormer Completion Grant to help pay for tuition. Toward the end of August, she received an email stating she had been deemed ineligible for the grant.

Out of money and sickened by the thought of not being able to graduate with a degree in Human Services she turned to others for help. Redding spoke with her internship supervisor and her advisor. Together they wrote a letter explaining why she would be a good candidate for the grant and resubmitted her application.  Last week, after her third attempt, she was granted the scholarship.

“When I saw the email that I would receive the completion funds I almost fell out of my chair,” said Redding. “To come this far and to not finish would have been a disaster. How would you feel to get to your last semester and not be able to pay for tuition? I was so happy that if I could have jumped through the roof I would have,” she said.

Redding is on course to graduate in December with an associate degree in human services with a focus on addiction studies.

Asili Muhina, also in the human services program, says she relies on financial aid to pay for tuition. Whatever the aid does not cover she pays out of pocket.

“It can be a challenge because I do not work full-time,” she said. “I work part-time making $15 an hour so it usually takes a few payments when I use the school’s payment plan.”

Muhina said she was not aware of any additional sources of funding because she did not see the need to look. Having only taken a few classes a semester she was able to budget her money. However, she admits additional funding from outside sources like scholarships and grants would have helped her save money for other bills.

Sara Cappaert, a data analyst at the college in Institutional Research, says searching for college funds is worth the effort.

“It never hurts to apply,” said Cappaert. “Even if you are not sure if you’d be eligible for a particular scholarship, there’s no harm in applying,” she said.

Cappaert offers the following tips to assist in searching for tuition assistance:

• Keep your eyes open and read your college associated emails for scholarship announcements.
• Check the MATC Foundation’s website for possible new private scholarships https://www.matc.edu/foundation/.
• Be specific if the application asks how you will be using the funds. Instead of replying “supplies,” be specific about the supplies needed, for example an iPad for nursing, or a scientific calculator for business.
• Check your sources to help ensure scholarships found through an internet search are legitimate. The Financial Aid office, the MATC Foundation, or Student Accounts are sources that could help you determine the possible legitimacy of a scholarship.
• Ask the professionals around the college, including advisors, retention coaches, and faculty.

More information is available on grants and scholarships for students seeking tuition assistance at the following sources:

Completion Scholarship: Currently closed, however students are encouraged to check their email for future opportunities.

Promise for Adults — Spring 2022 start  (info @ matc.edu/promise): MATC Promise for Adults

ReStart — Spring 2022 start  (info @ matc.edu/restart): MATC Restart

High School Promise — Class of 2022 (info @ matc.edu/promise): High School Promise

COVID Relief Funds — Fall 2021 :  Application Link

Chromebook and Internet Hot Spots: Student Technology Assistance

FAST Fund [email protected] [email protected] Ann Burback https://tinyurl.com/matcfastfund

DreamKeepers:  https://matc.dreamkeepers.org/

Currently closed: Textbook Scholarship, Supplies & Equipment Scholarship