GOLDEN LEAF SCHOLARS PROGRAM
TWO-YEAR COLLEGES
2019-20
Curriculum Application Packet
The Golden LEAF Scholars Program – Two-Year Colleges will provide grants of up to $750
per semester, including summer term, for curriculum students and up to $250 per term for
occupational education students to assist with tuition, fees, books, supplies, childcare, and
transportation expenses and credential testing fees for mid-skill training courses. Community
colleges choose to participate in the program annually so eligible students must attend a
participating community college.
Student Eligibility Requirements
Eligible students must (1) demonstrate financial need and (2) reside in a rural county that is
tobacco dependent and/or economically distressed (Tier 1 or Tier 2 under the 3-Tier
designation). A scholarship recipient who resides in an eligible county upon initial award
will retain eligibility and will be eligible for renewal awards as long as the student’s place of
residence is within the state of North Carolina.
Eligible students may receive an award for each funded term. Financial aid offices will
determine their application procedures for receiving awards for subsequent terms. Selected
students will be required to disclose all financial aid awards as dictated by college financial aid
offices for award packaging. Golden LEAF Scholarships will not displace
governmental grants, e.g. Pell grants, for which the student may be eligible (may displace
loan funds).
Curriculum Students: Will be selected based on their financial need as reported in their
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Degree seeking students must be
enrolled as a full-time student in order to receive the maximum scholarship awad. Grants for
less-than-full-time students will be prorated based on hours of enrollment and pending
availability of funds.
• Workforce Continuing Education Student Eligibility
o Students enrolling in Workforce Continuing Education (WCE) pathways/courses
offered for 96 hours or more and leading to a State or industry-recognized credential.
Eligible course codes are included on the attached Combined Course Library list.
o These pathways may consist of a single WCE course or a series of courses.
o Reside in North Carolina
o Eligibility criteria for students include:
• is unemployed;
• has received notification of a pending layoff;
• is working and is eligible for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit
(FEITC); or
• is working and earning wages at or below two hundred percent (200%) of the
federal poverty guidelines.