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First-Gen, First Step

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First-generation student Nita De La Cruz is working her way toward being the first person in her family to graduate from college.  She began at North Central State College after attending Pioneer Career and Technology Center studying graphic design.  It was her interest in design that lead her to the mechanical engineering program at NC State.

“North Central was the right choice for me because it is close to home while also leading me to what I want to do in the future,” De La Cruz says.  “I am a first-generation student, so being close to home was ideal for me.  Education is important and so is family.  I realized if you are connected to your family, you don’t have to go far to get a great education.”

First-generation students often experience a number of challenges, including guilt over leaving their families and possible financial responsibilities at home.

“My family has been very encouraging,” she says.  “Unfortunately, when I ask my family about college classes or financial aid, they don’t have any experience.  I have been lucky to have an advisor that is willing to help go the extra mile and get me prepared for my classes.”

“My advisor was the one who encouraged me to apply for scholarships to help ease the pressure of how I would pay for college,” De La Cruz explains.  “I received the Tuition Freedom Scholarship.  If I did not have it I would still be wondering how I would pay for college.  Without the scholarships, I would not be where I am right now.”

De La Cruz eventually wants to pay it forward to her family and community following graduation.  “In the future, I want to be an architectural engineer.  It combines two things I love, which are design and engineering,” she explains.  “I want to design homes for the less fortunate people who cannot afford them.  I just want to make a difference.  You can’t just sit and wait for someone else to do it.  You need to get a great education so you can do it on your own.”  She plans to transfer to a four-year institution after getting her associate degree in mechanical engineering in 2024.

For those experiencing college as first-generation students, she offers this advice, “Don’t let fear stop you from going to college.  You just need to set that fear aside and believe in yourself.  You have the chance to do something in your family that hasn’t been done before, so why not take it.”

If you are a first-generation student and need help navigating the different challenges you might face, the TRIO Student Support Services program provides and coordinates a variety of educational support services for students who are first generation, low-income and/or students with disabilities.

Scholarships Pave Way For Passion

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Starting classes early and applying for multiple scholarships helped pave the way for Brianna Felder to find her passion for science.  While taking College Credit Plus (CCP) classes at North Central State College, Brianna chose the Sci-Med program.

The Sci-Med program provides students with the opportunity to complete as many science-focused courses as possible in two years.  Brianna chose the health track, which allows students to focus on courses that will prepare them for a career in health care.

After graduating with her associate of science degree, she realized she wanted to continue her education and enrolled in the NC State nursing program.

“When I chose the Sci-Med program, I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do, just that I wanted to be in the medical field,” Felder explains.  “Halfway through my senior year as a CCP student, I realized I wanted to be a nurse.  Staying at North Central for the registered nursing program was my best option.  It is affordable and I know the professors.  Ultimately, I am comfortable right here on the North Central campus.”

“All of the courses I have taken so far are very good.  In many of my science classes, we have lectures online but our labs are in person, and that helps,” she says.

Felder also found financial help for tuition through multiple scholarships at North Central.  She was awarded the Tuition Freedom Scholarship, which she was eligible for as a CCP student, as well as the Smith Family Foundation scholarship and the Choose Ohio First scholarship.  “The scholarships have helped a lot.  I don’t have to worry about money because my first semester has been completely paid for,” she says.  “It has helped take a lot of the stress away and I can focus more on my classes.”

Choose Ohio First is part of a State of Ohio strategic effort to bolster Ohio’s economic strength by ensuring a ready workforce for STEM+M-related (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine) industries. North Central State College has been awarding Choose Ohio First Scholarships to students since 2010.

Felder credits North Central State College faculty for helping her feel at ease on the campus and preparing for the future.  “It has challenged me, taking classes at North Central, but I am a better student because of it,” she explains.  “The faculty has taught me how to study properly while also helping me become confident in asking for help when I need it, which has become very beneficial for me as a student.”

Felder hopes to graduate with an associate degree in registered nursing in 2024.

NC State Receives Award to Enhance Student Success

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This week, the U.S. Department of Education awarded $2,091,507 in Title III grant dollars to North Central State College for Strengthening Institutions Program North Central State College: FAST (Flexible Access Through Scheduling & Technology).

Flexible Access Through Scheduling & Technology seeks to significantly increase student access and success by a systemic adoption and implementation of advance instructional design, increased online and hybrid instruction, and 8-week terms with related support systems.

The five-year project seeks to build college capacity in student access and success through consistent instructional and technological practices, flexible delivery, and ongoing faculty and staff professional development to ensure that access and success occur for all students, online and face-to-face, including those traditionally underrepresented and first-generation students from diverse populations. The Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) has been selected to provide ongoing professional training for faculty and staff in the areas of Effective Online Teaching Practices and Inclusive Teaching for Equitable Learning. These Title III funds will allow the College to hire additional support personnel for student and staff technological needs and course success counseling to students. The funds will also provide updated technology in order to strengthen needed advising support to help students achieve academic success.

Culturally informed and equity based mentoring and coaching services to promote academic success and retention of underserved student populations will be addressed by an equity and access coordinator. The College will also receive a $150,000 endowment for scholarships which will be matched by the NCSC Foundation.

Dr. Dorey Diab, President of North Central State College stated, “A major objective of this grant is a continuous and strategic emphasis at the college to expand and support student learning, enrollment, and completion in an environment that is continually changing to enhance the social and economic mobility of our students, and the prosperity of our community.”

 

About Title III Grant Program

The program helps eligible institutions of higher education to become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of eligible institutions.

Title III Funds may be used for planning, faculty development, and establishing endowment funds. Administrative management, and the development and improvement of academic programs also are supported. Other projects include joint use of instructional facilities, construction and maintenance, and student service programs designed to improve academic success, including innovative, customized, instruction courses designed to help retain students and move the students rapidly into core courses and through program completion.

North Central State College receives approval for Bachelor of Science in Nursing

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Nursing Interest Form, opens in a new window

North Central State College has received approval to confer a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) as a completion degree for students who have completed their Associate Degree in Registered Nursing.

Approval for the completion program was granted to allow NC State to continue working closely with area healthcare providers to meet the critical need for nurses, and the advanced training required for career advancement.

Dorey Diab, President of NC State has been eager to share this news and begin serving our community partners at this new level. “NC State has always been a leader in preparing Licensed Practical and Registered Nurses. This will allow our students to progress to the bachelor’s level in a place they feel comfortable, with faculty they know — and who know them. I’m proud that our College is one of a handful of community colleges in Ohio who are now granting bachelor’s degrees. Our BSN degree will be affordable, providing tremendous value for our students and their families. I’m also proud of the teamwork this proposal and approval has required. Our community partners, and the residents they serve, will realize the benefits of today’s decision very quickly.”

Students who wish to pursue their Bachelor of Science in Nursing will begin their studies in Fall 2023. Registered Nurses who would like additional information can fill out an interest form at www.ncstatecollege.edu/bsn.

 

Degree Drives Grad to Automotive Career

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As the job market becomes more competitive, the importance of getting an education increases.  It’s one of the many reasons Hayes Bentley started early and enrolled in the College-NOW program at North Central State College. Those experiences lead him to multiple internships for worldwide companies like Tesla and Marathon Petroleum.

“NC State prepared me for my future career by helping me build a strong engineering background while still in high school,” Bentley explains.  “The combination of taking fundamental engineering classes and completing various engineering projects allowed me to be a strong, confident engineer.”

Bentley enrolled in the College-NOW engineering program from 2018-2019 while attending Northmor High School simultaneously.  He says he chose NC State specifically for the engineering program, “It was one of the best decisions I ever made as I was able to gain valuable experience while also developing a great baseline of skills before entering a four-year university.”

He graduated with his associate degree in Integrated Engineering Technology in 2019.

“North Central gave me a baseline knowledge of how Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) function and their role in the industry,” he says.  “I learned how to critically think about problems and how to solve them like an engineer.”

Bentley says he enjoyed the project-focused classes.  “Many of the introductory engineering classes focused heavily on the practical aspects of engineering, while some classes I have been in later in my college career have been theoretical.”

In the College-NOW engineering program, instructors assign projects to students to help them gain hands-on knowledge that will help them in their future careers.  In one class, students learn how to make small-scale electric vehicles.  “This class was the most beneficial for me,” he says.  “Even though I made some mistakes, I truly believe those mistakes made me a better engineer.  That class was the reason why I was selected for internships at Tesla and Marathon Petroleum.”

Bentley has gained experience with both internships as an Information Technology Application Developer intern and a Process Automation and Controls intern at the companies.  “My daily responsibilities included writing code that will directly interface with hardware in the field,” he explains.  “I work primarily with PLCs and the additional devices that interact with them.”  He has recently accepted an internship at Tesla as a data engineer on the cell engineer team in Austin, TX.  “I am extremely excited for this opportunity at Tesla and cannot wait to continue to apply my skillset.”

He is currently attending The Ohio State University and is expecting to graduate in the spring of 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering.  He plans to attend graduate school for his MBA.

As for anyone considering the engineering program at North Central State, Bentley says it is a critical decision in pursuing a career in STEM.  “Taking engineering classes such as DC/AC circuits and statics helped me build a well-rounded knowledge base before I entered my four-year university program,” he says.  “Additionally, completing complex engineering projects at NC State helped me become more confident in my skills as an engineer.”

“My experience at North Central State College has opened doors and allowed me to have many opportunities I didn’t think were possible for myself.”

Scholarship Offers Tuition Freedom

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There are many advantages of starting your college journey early, including free tuition at North Central State College.  Karson Kimmel is just one of many students awarded the Tuition Freedom Scholarship.  He began by enrolling in our College Credit Plus (CCP) program, which allows college-ready high school students in grades 7-12 to take courses at no cost.

Kimmel got a jump start on his education leading him to an associate degree.  “I had a great experience taking CCP classes at North Central,” he explains.  “I was able to take my classes online while continuing my high school schedule.”

Kimmel stayed on top of his course schedule by planning out his day-to-day assignments for both his college and high school courses.  “If you are thinking about taking CCP classes at North Central State, I would say to go for it.  There is plenty of help at North Central.  Tutors and professors will be there for you as long as you are willing to ask for help.”

While taking CCP classes, Kimmel qualified for our Tuition Freedom Scholarship.  North Central will provide up to an associate degree, tuition-free, to every qualifying CCP or Career Tech student.  “It was an honor to get the Tuition Free Scholarship,” he says.  “It’s a lot of hard work to take college classes while in high school, but to know that your first two years of college are paid for is very rewarding.”

“The scholarship application process is very simple,” he goes on to explain.  “If you qualify for it after you apply, North Central will reach out to you and take you through the process.”

With the cost of living continuing to rise, Tuition Freedom is only one of many scholarships available to help students obtain an associate degree without breaking the bank. “I know that at a lot of universities, the tuition is going up,” Kimmel says.  “If you can go to a school like North Central, I strongly recommend it because it will save you money.  Also, the classes I am taking right now are the same classes students take at any larger university.  The class sizes are a lot smaller so you will be able to get more help if you need it from the professor.”

“I have been able to get my general education courses and my associate degree quicker and debt-free,” Kimmel says proudly.  “I can commute to campus and work at the same time, which is going to be very helpful down the road.”

The last day for students to respond to their Tuition Freedom Scholarship acceptance letter is July 8, 2022.

Kimmel will graduate in the fall of 2024 with an associate degree in liberal arts.  He plans to transfer to a four-year university get a bachelor’s degree in education.

Tuition Freedom Scholarship