Golden LEAF Scholars Program for Two-Year Colleges is funded through a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation, a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to help transform North Carolinas economy. The scholars program provides funds up to $2,250 annually for curriculum students and up to $1,850 annually for occupational education students.
Scholarship funds are limited to tuition, books, fees, credentialing tests, childcare services, transportation and other components of the total cost of attendance for the 2021-2022 fall, spring and summer semesters.
To be eligible, a community college student must:
- Be a NC resident, demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA and reside in a rural county that is tobacco dependent and economically distressed.
- Degree-seeking students must be enrolled at least full-time for full award. Less than half-time students may be considered pending the availability of funds.
Finalists meeting all the eligibility criteria will undergo a separate merit competition. Selection is based on:
- The effect of the declining economy on his or her family
- Owned or employed in farming/agriculture business
- Owned or employed in traditional industries such as textiles or furniture manufacturing
- Household member lost their job or gone from full-time to part-time
- Academic record
- Leadership and community service
Fall deadline to turn in application August 30, 2021.
Golden LEAF application 2021-2022 available for download: