AT&T Grant Will Help Fuel Education Opportunities at NTC

Northwoods students, many of whom have the will but not the wherewithal to continue their education beyond high school, received a boost Monday.

The Northcentral Technical College Foundation received a $5,000 AT&T contribution to support the NTC Promise during an event on the Antigo campus.

The presentation was made by Robyn Gruner of AT&T Wisconsin, with the ceremonial check accepted by Dr. Jeannie Worden, executive vice president of NTC along with Dr. Vicki Jeppesen, vice-president of college advancement and executive director of the NTC Foundation, and Justin Willis, director of NTC Promise.

Gruner called the program very impactful.

I’m proud to be part of a company that invests in the future workforce, she said.

The NTC Promise provides up to four semesters of tuition free attendance for qualified students in the technical college’s district who meet ongoing requirements. In addition, participants receive individual guidance and support from a dedicated advisor as they navigate the eligibility requirements of their college program.

Through the NTC Promise, our goal is to not only help local high school seniors realize their dreams of attending college by reducing financial barriers, but to also ensure a skilled workforce for our communities, Worden said. We are thrilled to receive this AT&T donation to support our Promise program.

The $5,000 AT&T contribution will help support the 2018-2020 NTC Promise student cohort.

We sincerely appreciate their generous contribution, Worden added.

According to the Hechinger Report from 2015, up to 40 percent of low-income high school students who are accepted to college never make it to their first day of class due to complex factors such as cost. For those who do make it, one of the top reasons students drop out of college is lack of funds. Many students take out school loans, but that isn’t always enough to cover the cost of college.

Jeppesen said program such as the NTC Promise, backed by strong business and industry support, can make a difference.

We need business partners in order to continue the program, she stressed, noting that 83 percent of students entering Northcentral Technical College qualify for some sort of financial aid. Promise gives students hope who didn’t think they would have the opportunity to go to college.

The mission of the NTC Promise is to provide free college tuition and a support structure designed to help qualified high school graduates succeed in their education. The Promise serves those students who demonstrate the greatest financial need in order to address financial gaps between financial aid, scholarship support and the cost of college.

For many students, going to college seems like a dream that will never happen. But through the NTC Promise, students who face financial barriers are not only provided with free tuition, but also the hope for a brighter future, State Rep. Mary Felzkowski said. Education is the great equalizer. Thank you for what you do as a foundation and thank you AT&T for your donation. Knowing NTC, I’m sure it will go far.

State Senator Tom Tiffany said that, while four-year college will always play a significant role in the educational makeup, more and more students are understanding the value and opportunities presented by technical education and apprenticeships.

That’s the education so many of our young people need, he said.

The NTC Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Northcentral Technical College. The NTC Foundation partners with donors to gather and disperse financial resources which advocate for and support NTC students through scholarships, programs and services.

Source: Antigo Daily Journal