BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—North Central State College is expanding access to higher education in Crawford County through record-breaking scholarship support and robust tuition-free degree programs.
During a recent “Community Spotlight” segment, Nate Harvey of the Crawford Success Center announced that the annual Scholarships for Success benefit raised more than $35,000 on March 5. The funds are earmarked specifically for students attending classes within Crawford County, providing vital financial stability for local scholars.
The college is also emphasizing the immediate benefits of the College Credit Plus (CCP) program as high school students begin scheduling for the upcoming academic year. Through the “Tuition Freedom” initiative, students who maintain a 2.75 GPA and complete three CCP credits can pathway into an associate degree with no tuition costs.
Dr. Andrew Shella, Dean of the Kehoe Center, noted that the savings can extend even further. Students in the “College Now” integrated engineering program who transition immediately into the Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology can complete all four years of their degree tuition-free.
Beyond traditional degrees, the Kehoe Center continues to address the regional “skills gap” with one-year certificates in tool and die and electrical maintenance. These programs focus on applied, hands-on learning to replace a retiring workforce in the manufacturing sector.
Upcoming workforce development includes level one supervision and leadership training at the end of March, alongside a new “Women in Leadership” program launching March 26.