INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Cabling
Cabling company awards emergency grants to students
AFL awards US $ 10,000 grant to Greenville Tech Foundation to support student emergency needs . first in their family to attend college . Others are single parents , trying to manage work , college and childcare .
AFL , a manufacturer of fiber optic cable , connectivity and equipment , has awarded a US $ 10,000 grant to Greenville Tech Foundation to support students enrolled in STEM degree programs who face an unexpected financial emergency that may prevent them from continuing their education .
The grant will enable STEM students facing a financial crisis to continue their education , graduate and enter the workforce to fill essential jobs in the Upstate of South Carolina .
“ We regularly see requests from students who have an unexpected tuition balance after financial aid awards have been exhausted or who may struggle to pay for additional college expenses like textbooks , supplies , uniforms or testing fees that are not covered by other forms of financial aid ,” said Ann
Wright , Vice President of Advancement for Greenville Tech Foundation .
“ Sometimes students face other financial emergencies such as utility cut-off , eviction , car repairs , medical expenses and childcare expenses that impede educational goals .”
Studies show that one of the main reasons for dropping out reported by students relates to financial challenges . The likelihood of a student re-enrolling in college after dropping out is low , with only 30 % returning to finish a degree . Student Emergency funds provide just-in-time financial interventions to students making progress toward a STEM degree with a genuine unmet financial need .
Almost 50 % of GTC students are from lowincome homes and some 60 % of students take classes while also working . Many are the
Wright continued : “ Any extra expense can be an obstacle to graduation , but research shows that direct financial support has a significant impact on keeping students in school and getting them to graduation .”
The grant from AFL will extend GTC ’ s existing Student Emergency Needs program for STEM degree-seeking students . Funding will provide one-time financial assistance to STEM degree students for financial emergencies that would prevent a student from continuing their education . Assistance is capped at US $ 1,000 per student . This program has already helped more than 180 students with emergency aid for the different barriers .
AFL ’ s Community Outreach Program includes grants , sponsorships , volunteer and environment initiatives , disaster relief , scholarships and more . p
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