A-B Tech Targeted Enrollment Grants Encourage Success

Staff reports

About 60 students benefited during the fall semester from targeted enrollment grants provided by A-B Tech to increase enrollment and retention in underrepresented populations.

According to Minority Recruiter Sharon Shervington, the grants assist students who may have difficulty making the transition from high school to college. “Many of the students are first-generation college students. These grants provide funds to cover tuition and books when they don’t have access to financial aid yet. It also keeps them from getting discouraged,” she said.

Shervington identifies and recruits students who are good candidates
for the grants and supports them as they make the transition to college
life. “That can mean anything from helping them dialogue with
instructors to identifying sources of tutoring funds. It’s a whole gamut
to facilitate and direct students to other services,” she said.
“Recently, for example, we’ve arranged special informational sessions
and tours with Holly Library and Academic Learning Center to support
these students.”

President Hank Dunn established the initiative to
serve African American students and single parents. Awards are also
given to GED graduates seeking a curriculum degree, students who excel
in high school, students who attempted to earn a degree at A-B Tech and
had to drop out, and students seeking non-traditional careers for their
gender.

The initiative awards $500 to $1,000 to students over two
semesters. “It keeps them from saying they can’t go to college now,”
Shervington said. “We are just so thrilled that we have been able to
help these students.”

For more information, contact Shervington at (828) 254-1921, ext. 7537.