Broadcast on WLOS, July 6, 2021
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College announced a new program Tuesday to cover tuition and fees for students who enroll this fall.
Under the Trailblazer Promise program, students who enroll in fall semester classes can receive up to $1,500. The money comes from federal and state funds, and it's meant to help the college and students recover from the pandemic.
"We’re going to leverage some of the coronavirus federal relief funds to do what we can to remove financial barriers for our students," vice president of student services Terry Brasier said.
"I don’t have to work about 40, 50, 60 hours a week just to be like, 'OK, I have enough to pay for school, pay for the books and then figure out what to do for rent and after that,'" culinary arts student Joshua Waters said.
Students may qualify by enrolling in six or more credit hours and completing a free application for federal student aid form by Aug. 10.
“This is an opportunity to transform people’s lives and the economic health of our region,” A-B Tech President John D. Gossett said in a news release. “There has never been a better time to attend A-B Tech. We’ve received millions of dollars from federal and state funding sources that is intended to help the college and students recover from the impacts of COVID-19. We’re using the Trailblazer Promise and other relief funds to invest in our students’ futures by removing barriers and enabling them to pursue their education debt-free.”
Learn more about the Trailblazer Promise program here.
Additional emergency relief funds are available to assist students who graduated high school in 2021 and adults who enroll in workforce and continuing education classes.
Funding available to A-B Tech students includes:
- Longleaf Commitment for 2021 High School Graduates: Provides $700 to $2,800 for full-time enrollment
- A-B Tech Works: Provides $1,500 to $3,000 for students whose jobs or income were negatively impacted by COVID-19
- Continuing Education and Workforce Scholarships
A-B Tech also will distribute additional relief funds to curriculum students during the semester to offset the impact of COVID-19 on their ability to pay for tuition or other expenses such as childcare, technology and transportation costs.
A-B Tech’s fall semester classes begin Aug. 23.