This week, the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) met with students and administrators from McDowell Technical Community College to highlight the state’s emergency grant and scholarship programs to help college and university students impacted by Hurricane Helene. So far, more than 45,000 scholarships and grants were awarded to students impacted by Hurricane Helene and students attending Helene-impacted schools.
“After Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina, students faced a major disruption to their studies,” said Matt Calabria, Director of GROW NC. “The students we met from McDowell Tech showed tremendous resilience. We’ve sought to do everything we can to help alleviate some of the financial burdens on students through state-funded emergency grant and scholarship programs.”
The emergency and tuition grant funding programs were designed to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in the North Carolina Community College System, UNC System, and private universities and colleges. More than $48 million in state funds were directed to scholarships and emergency grants, with nearly half of those funds supporting community college students.
“This investment didn’t just help individuals—it strengthened our entire campus community to Learn, Grow, and Dream, ensuring that local employers can continue to count on a skilled, resilient workforce," said Dr. James "J.W." Kelley, McDowell Technical Community College President. "The impact of this support will be felt for years to come in the lives of our students and the vitality of our region."
Three McDowell Tech students shared how this additional funding impacted their lives and helped them continue their studies.
- Carli Cook faced significant life changes while working to complete the R.N. nursing program. She found herself enrolled as a full-time student while taking on the roles of caregiver and primary breadwinner for her family. Then Helene hit. An emergency grant covered bills and tuition, helping her stay on track for graduation in May 2025. She has already passed her NCLEX exam and is working as a Registered Nurse in the community.
- Jennifer Messer went back to school at age 39 to complete the Certified Nursing Assistant program. She balanced school with work to cover expenses, but her employer was unable to reopen in the months following Helene. An emergency grant contributed to tuition and Internet service, helping her complete her final semester and graduate. She is now taking pre-requisite classes for the nursing program.
- Andrew Turnbull wasn’t planning to go back to college at age 54, but Hurricane Helene took both his home and his job as resident caretaker at Buck Creek Trout Farm. After a harrowing experience navigating the storm, an emergency grant helped him look forward and start over, covering his tuition for construction classes. He hopes to be part of the change as our state works to help western North Carolina rebuild and recover.
Thousands of community college students were able to stay enrolled and continue pursuing their degrees and certificates because of these grants.
Grants and Scholarships for western North Carolina community college students
- At least 20,725 community college students from western North Carolina or studying in the region received a total of nearly $23 million in grants and scholarships.
- These funds helped students enrolled in the North Carolina Community College System cover costs related to tuition, fees, and emergency expenses impacting their ability to remain enrolled.
Visit our WNC Recovery Stories page to find more stories about student grant recipients, and to learn more about the people and organizations making a difference in western North Carolina.