Laurel Ridge Awarded $15,000 Grant to Help Students Overcome Financial Barriers

Laurel Ridge Community College has received a $15,000 grant aimed at helping students overcome financial challenges and stay on track with their education.

The funding comes from the Ellucian Foundation’s Progress, Accomplishment, Thriving, Hope (PATH) Scholarship Program, which supports colleges and universities around the world. The program is designed to assist students facing economic hardships that could interrupt their studies.

At Laurel Ridge, the grant was distributed among 17 students. According to Vivi Meder, director of student support, six students used the funds to help cover childcare costs during the fall semester. The college has been working to expand support for parent scholars, many of whom balance school with family responsibilities.

“Childcare costs are vital in alleviating financial stress for parent scholars hoping to change their lives by continuing their education,” Meder said. “These stipends lessen the burden so that parents can focus on their academics, one semester at a time.”

The remaining funds supported 11 students enrolled in the college’s Power Line Worker program. These students needed to travel to Southside Virginia Community College in Blackstone to complete the final four weeks of hands-on training. While housing was available, it came with added costs. The scholarship covered those living expenses, making it possible for all 11 students to complete the program.

Program Manager AnnaJane Whitacre said the funding played a key role in launching the program last fall. Laurel Ridge’s own training facility is still under construction, making travel necessary for the first group of students.

“With this funding, we were able to provide scholarships to cover all 11 students’ housing costs,” Whitacre said. “These scholarships contributed significantly to many students’ ability to participate in the program.”

The program’s first group graduated on December 19, and about 80 percent have already found jobs in the electric utility industry.

The need for programs like PATH continues to grow. Laura Ipsen, president and CEO of Ellucian, pointed to findings from the company’s 2025 Student Voice Report. The report found that 23 percent of former students cannot afford the upfront costs to return to college, while 15 percent are already weighed down by student debt.

“Students across the globe are working hard to stay enrolled, but too many continue to face financial barriers that put their progress at risk,” Ipsen said.

Since its launch in 2020, the Ellucian Foundation’s PATH Scholarship Program has awarded more than $3.7 million in grants to over 200 institutions, helping more than 3,700 students continue their education.

“Institutions know better than anyone the real barriers their students face — and how even modest financial support can change the trajectory of a learner’s academic journey,” said Jen Welding, executive director of the Ellucian Foundation.

For Laurel Ridge students, the impact is already clear. Whether helping parents stay in class or supporting hands-on job training, the funding is opening doors and creating new opportunities for success.