FLORENCE– The University of North Alabama and Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) are teaming up to provide a new scholarship opportunity in cooperation with the Shoals Scholar Dollars Program.
Officials with UNA and NW-SCC have been working on an agreement with Shoals Scholar Dollars representatives that would provide a scholarship for students who plan on transferring from NW-SCC to UNA. The Shoals Scholar Dollars program, which was founded by the Florence and Sheffield Rotary clubs, was originally designed to assist students who have limited or no financial assistance to pay for tuition at NW-SCC. However, this new agreement will change that to include UNA.
UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts said he met recently with NW-SCC President Dr. Humphrey Lee to discuss ways in which both schools could strengthen their partnership.
Dr. Ken Kitts
“This new scholarship is a perfect example of both institutions working together with the Shoals Scholar Dollars program to make higher education more accessible,” said Kitts. “We’ve all seen the impact Scholar Dollars has had on higher education in the Shoals, and we’re excited about the role UNA will play in the program going forward. But these are the types of things that can happen when you put education and students first, and we’re looking forward to a long partnership with SSD and NW-SCC,” he said.
Humphrey Lee
NW-SCC is the leading community college feeder institution for UNA, and their work with the Scholar Dollars program has already demonstrated their commitment to higher education in the area. However, this new partnership between the three entities will provide more opportunities for students with financial needs in the Shoals.
According to NW-SCC President Dr. Humphrey Lee, this is the kind of growth in the program he had envisioned. “When the Scholar Dollars program began we saw this as a scholarship to educate students in the Shoals area and increase our workforce,” said Lee. “Now, with the help of UNA, we can take that mission to a new level by rewarding those students who are successful at Northwest-Shoals with a scholarship to UNA.”
The new scholarship will be available to students who maintain eligibility while at NW-SCC, have financial need and wish to go on and complete a four-year degree at UNA. Students transferring to UNA after two years in the Shoals Scholar Dollars program at NW-SCC will be expected to meet the scholarship renewal criteria of the current program.
Federal Pell Grant or partial Pell Grant students who enter the Scholar Dollars program at NW-SCC this fall will be eligible for the scholarship at UNA beginning in fall 2018.
For more information on the Shoals Scholar Dollars program: http://www.
Media Release/UNA/NWSCC
