Scholarships

 

****Spring Scholarships are open until January 10, 2025****

Thanks to the generosity of our community members, students, employees, and HCC Foundation, HCC offers a variety of scholarships for our students.

How to Apply (Spring 2025)

  1. Enroll to HCC
  2. Apply for financial aid using the FAFSA Application
  3. Complete your Scholarship application haywood.awardspring.com
    1. Our system will automatically match you to scholarships you qualify for, making this process simple for our students.

Scholarship Types

Continuing Education

Financial Hardship

Haywood Strong

SECU Bridge to Career

Tuition Free

Pop and Marj Kelly Merit

HCC PIVOT

Outside Opportunities

Lavender Fund

Bobcat Resiliency Grant

Available to new and returning students for the Spring 2025 Semester.

The Bobcat Resiliency Grant will provide free tuition and coverage of select fees for all students entering the Spring 2025 semester. These funds are available for new and returning students. The goal is to reduce financial barriers that students may be facing to support their desire to return to the classroom.

As a last-dollar funding source, students must still ensure they have completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA application. This is an exciting opportunity for all students in Haywood County looking to continue or start their educational journey with HCC.

Continuing Education

Several scholarships are available for students interested in workforce continuing education.  These scholarships may pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies and in some cases transportation and childcare. To apply for any of these scholarships, please complete the Continuing Education Scholarship Application.

Complete Application

 

The HCC Foundation offers scholarships for continuing education students which can be used to cover tuition and fees for any Continuing Education/Workforce Development course.

 

HCC has established a scholarship for 2023 mill employees. Haywood Strong offers financial assistance for those affected by the closure and looking to return to the classroom. 

 

The North Carolina Golden LEAF scholarship program offers up to $250 to those students in classes which lead to a North Carolina Official Certification or licensure.   Those classes that meet this criteria include the following:

  • EMT—Basic Initial Course
  • EMT—Intermediate
  • Fire and Rescue Certification Classes (Firefighter Level I and II Classes, Driver Operator Pumps/Aerial Operation, Technical Rescue Technician, Fire and Life Safety Educator Level I, II, & III, Hazardous Materials.
  • Medication Aide
  • Nurse Aide
  • Phlebotomy
  • BLET
  • Pharmacy Technician

The student must reside in an eligible county to be considered for this scholarship.

 

This grant provides up to $750 per course to students prursuing short term, noncredit Stte and industry-recognized workforce credentials. Students must qualify as residents for tuition purposes under the central residency determination process (RDS).

These classes meet his criteria:

EMT—Basic Initial Course
EMT—Intermediate
Fire and Rescue Certification Classes (Firefighter Level I and II Classes, Driver Operator Pumps/Aerial Operation, Technical Rescue Technician, Fire and Life Safety Educator Level I, II, & III, Hazardous Materials.
Medication Aide
Nurse Aide
Phlebotomy
BLET
Pharmacy Technician

Apply Here.

Lavender Fund

HCC cares about our students. We have designated funds available for students facing a financial need. With our Lavender Fund, if you are a first year-second semester or later student, you can apply for funds to help cover one-time emergency needs. 

Truist Logo The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Logo Canopy Housing Foundation Logo Typical funding needs that students request include:

  • Transportation needs (public transportation, gas, etc.)
  • Child Care
  • Heating and utility assistance
  • Housing
  • Food and Hunger assistance

Apply Now

Submit completed form and invoice copies to hcc-scholarships@haywood.edu, or in person at HCC Foundation Office Balsam (110) Building, 185 Freedlander Dr., Clyde, NC 28721.  

Haywood Strong

The community is dedicated to support those impacted by the mill closure. From employees to households and local businesses, support is available!

HCC has established a scholarship for 2023 mill employees. Haywood Strong offers financial assistance for those looking to return to the classroom.

How to Apply
1. Enroll to HCC
2. Complete Haywood Strong Application Haywood Strong Application
3. If you want to be eligible for other HCC Scholarships and Financial Aid, you must apply for financial aid using the FAFSA Application and  complete the HCC Scholarship application haywood.awardspring.com .
Our system will automatically match you to scholarships you qualify for, making this process simple for our students.

If you have questions about this scholarship, please reach out to: Hylah Birenbaum at hebirenbaum@haywood.edu or 828-627-4544.

SECU Bridge to Career

In 2018, the State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Foundation established the SECU Bridge to Career Program to help remove financial barriers for students seeking to obtain state-regulated or industry-recognized credentials through the workforce/continuing education division for their local Community Colleges that lead to sustainable wage careers within their local communities.  Amount is $500.  Please complete the SECU Student Data and Consent Form AND the Photo Release. Email to HCC-scholarships@haywood.edu

Tuition Free Guarantee

The HCC Tuition Free Guarantee will pay for up to four semesters at the in-state tuition rate for any 2024 qualifying high school graduate (public, private, homeschool, or HCC High School Equivalency graduate) from Haywood County who does not obtain the full amount needed through federal financial aid (Pell and FSEOG), State (NCCCG, NCELS, NC Long Leaf) and/or any scholarships.  The guarantee will be applicable for up to two years (fall & spring semesters only) of enrollment as long as the student continues to meet our predefined criteria. 

The HCC Tuition Free Guarantee will not cover program/course specific fees, out of state tuition costs, or books/materials.

​The guarantee is subject to approval from the scholarship committee and availability of funds. 

If you have questions about this scholarship, please reach out to us at hcc-scholarships@haywood.edu.

In order to qualify for the Tuition Free Guarantee, students must complete the following steps before Friday, July 19, 2024 for the Fall 2024 semester.​

Initial Qualification Criteria for HCC’s Tuition Free Guarantee
  1. Be a 2024 high school graduate from Haywood County (public, private, or homeschool) or HCC High School Equivalent graduate.
  2. Hold a minimum high school GPA of 2.8.
  3. Enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester (full-time status) at HCC.
  4. Each year students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Applications can be found at fafsa.gov.
  5. Annually complete the HCC scholarship application. This can be found at haywood.awardspring.com.
  6. Meet with your HCC Success Coach prior to enrolling in courses. Have a question? Reach out to our team at hcc-advising@haywood.edu
Continued Qualification Criteria for HCC’s Tuition Free Guarantee
  1. Each year students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Applications can be found at fafsa.gov.
  2. Maintain a GPA of 2.0 at HCC.
  3. Continue enrollment of 12 credit hours per semester (fall & spring).
  4. Complete the HCC scholarship application. This can be found at haywood.awardspring.com.

Pop and Marj Kelly Merit

The Pop and Marj Kelly Merit Scholarship is open to all students who will graduate in 2024 from Pisgah High School, Tuscola High School, Central Haywood High School, Bethel Christian Academy, Haywood Christian Academy, Shining Rock Classical Academy or Haywood County Homeschools. He/She must be planning to attend Haywood Community College and have a 3.5 or better GPA. There will be five $10,000 scholarships available. Selected recipients will be awarded $2,500 a semester for up to four semesters.

Eligibility Criteria

  •  2024 High School Graduate of Pisgah High School, Tuscola High School, Central Haywood High School, Bethel Christian Academy, Haywood Christian Academy, Shining Rock Classical Academy or Haywood County Homeschools
    • 3.5 or better GPA (Unweighted)
  •  Have completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA
  •  Participation in extracurricular activities and involvement in community service
  •  Scholastic Achievement
  •  Financial Need

Pop and Marj Kelly Merit Application

HCC PIVOT

The HCC PIVOT is a scholarship that will pay towards tuition, fees, books and supplies for any student entering into a Certificate, Diploma or Associate’s degree within selected High Demand, High Skills, High Wages Fields who does not obtain the full amount needed through federal financial aid and/or scholarships. PIVOT will be applicable for up to NINE Semesters -awarded on a semester to semester basis (some programs have summer course requirements) of enrollment as long as the student continues to meet our predefined criteria (listed below).

2024-2025 Selected Programs: Automotive Systems Technology, Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology, Computer-Integrated Machining, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Electrical Systems Technology, Industrial Systems, Information Technology, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Welding Technology.

The HCC PIVOT will cover specific program/courses for tuition, fees and books/supplies. Initial Qualification Criteria – Interested Students Must:

  • Enroll in a selected High Demand, High Skill-Level, and High Pay Programs listed above.
  • Enroll in a Minimum of 6 Credit Hours per Semester at HCC as required by program.
  • Annually Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
  • Annually Complete the HCC Scholarship Application https://haywood.awardspring.com/
  • Have a Career Planning Meeting with a High School Career Coach, the Dean of Transitional Studies and High School Partnerships or one of our Success Coaches before enrollment. 

Continued Qualification Criteria for HCC’s PIVOT:

  • Maintain a GPA of 2.0 at HCC.
  • Continue enrollment of at least 6 credit hours per semester in selected program         

(Scholarships subject to approval by Scholarship Committee and Availability of Funds)

Outside Opportunities

Community members and partners also provide opportunities for our students to apply for scholarships provided directly by the business or entity. HCC works to keep this list of opportunities updated as frequently as possible. Please review the below list for scholarships that might be applicable to you:

Students are required to report any aid received from a source other than the school’s financial aid office.  This includes any aid received at another institution during the current academic year. Types of aid that should be reported include the previously mentioned sources as well as any scholarships not awarded by HCC or tuition assistance from an employer. Failure to report such assistance could result in a reduction or cancellation of your financial aid.

Contact Us

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00am-4:00pm

hcc-scholarships@haywood.edu