"Close the Gap"
Scholarship Program
 

All Appalachia and Powell Valley High School students offered educational advancement opportunity through Gap Partnership’s “Close the Gap” Scholarship Program.  

Mountain Empire Community College Board Room – August 13, 2009 – The Gap Partnership’s Board of Directors announces a “Close the Gap” Scholarship Program for Appalachia and Powell Valley graduating seniors attending Mountain Empire Community College.   

The program will provide a last dollar tuition scholarship for students who qualify for financial assistance but still have unmet tuition expenses.  By “Closing the Gap” the Gap Partnership hopes to encourage an increasing number of students to pursue a college education.  

In order to qualify students must:

1.  Be a member of Appalachia or Powell Valley High School’s current graduating class.

·       2. Enroll at Mountain Empire Community College the first fall semester after graduation.

·       3. Enroll as a full time student in a degree, diploma, transfer, or certificate program

·       4. Apply for all available financial aid and qualify for financial assistance. 

·       5. Submit applications in person at Mountain Empire Community College no later than May 1^st  to Enrollment Services Director, Kristy Hall.

·       6. Maintain a 2.5 GPA during first semester in order to qualify for second semester funding 

The Gap Partnership’s year one funding goal is $15,000 dollars with an ultimate long-term goal of a $250,000 endowment.   Statistical data from previous years indicates that $15,000 would cover the entire unmet tuition need for Powell Valley and Appalachia Students enrolled at Mountain Empire.  

The program will begin providing assistance to graduating seniors enrolling in the Fall 2010 Semester.

The Gap Partnership’s fund raising efforts (view poster here) are scheduled to start on August 29^th with a “Playin’ It Cool” summer concert event at the Wax Farm to be followed by a “Feed the Fans” dinner on November 6^th at the Powell Valley, Appalachia Football Game.  

For more information concerning the scholarship program and fundraising events call the Gap Partnership President, Sharon Ewing, at (276) 523-1322.