Over $2 million in scholarship money awarded to WCC students

WCC student and Future for Frontliner recipient, Aidan Ross, poses for a photo. Shelby Beaty | Washtenaw Voice

Futures for Frontliners and Michigan Reconnect have helped more than 1,800 WCC students

by ETHAN BERMAN
Staff Writer

Two new state scholarship programs have provided a combined $2 million to WCC students.

Michigan’s Futures for Frontliners program has paid out almost $1.5 million to WCC students who worked in essential positions such as grocery, health and other businesses that remained open during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program allows essential workers to obtain an associate’s degree and certificate tuition-free.

Close to 1,000 students enrolled at WCC are getting Frontliners’ help this fall, according to Fran LeFort, director of media relations at the college. Last winter, 558 WCC students who had worked on the frontline got more than $500,000.

The Frontliners program was unveiled in 2020. Then, in February, state officials announced the start of another program to boost college attainment: The Michigan Reconnect program is open to state residents 25 and older who do not have a college degree. Michigan Reconnect covers tuition for eligible adults who want to pursue an associate degree or skills certificate at community colleges. Both efforts support Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s goal of increasing the number of Michigan adults with a college degree/certificate from 45 to 60 percent.

Currently, some 831 WCC students benefit from the Michigan Reconnect program, LeFort said. The Reconnect program is providing $670,548 for those students, she said.

Aidan Ross, a frontline worker and student at WCC, was one of many recipients of the Frontliners scholarship.

“I’ve received a total of $1,800 from Frontliners,” said Ross, who works at a grocery store. “If it weren’t for me getting the scholarship, my life would likely be more stagnant altogether. I likely still would not have answered the question, ‘What am I going to school for?’ On top of that, I would still have to figure out how to pay for that education out of my own pocket.”

This scholarship has helped Ross make decisions about the future and has promised financial stability.

“Starting my education on this scholarship is the payoff for a time that was very difficult for me, especially in that I didn’t see anything to really look forward to. Now I have something, and I can kind of pick up the pieces from here,” he said.

As of Sept. 21 a new state budget was proposed to allot $2.2 billion extra toward education. This would give the Frontliners program an additional $25 million in aid for disbursement and the Reconnect program an additional $55 million.

Applicants interested in applying for Michigan Reconnect must:

- Be at least 25 years old when they apply.
- Have lived in Michigan for one year or longer.
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Have not yet completed a college degree (associate or bachelor’s).

Applicants must also submit the FAFSA federal student financial aid form. Additionally, applicants must attend WCC from in-district. Those who are attending out-of-district may do so but will see less coverage for their tuition.

If students are interested in other resources available to them at WCC, they may contact the financial aid office at 734-973-3523.