Additional donors can help college funding program grow!

MOUNT VERNON—The Knox County Foundation will extend funding for Knox Promise, a three-year trial program featuring free college at Central Ohio Technical College (COTC).

The program launched in 2022 and guarantees free college to qualifying residents of Knox County. KCF approved funding for the program into the 2025-26 academic year and seeks donors interested in expanding it to impact more Knox County residents.

“Knox Promise is sometimes called a ‘last dollars scholarship’ because it funds the gap between what’s been covered by a student’s scholarships and grants and whatever remains of their tuition,” Jeff Scott, KCF executive director, said.

“This program is a perfect reflection of KCF’s priorities—community helping community. When local funding helps students earn college degrees, and in turn they get better paying jobs, it’s a huge benefit to the community.”

Since its launch, the Knox Promise has made college education a reality for 164 Knox County students. In its first three years, Knox Promise awarded $79,003.85 in “last dollars scholarships.”

How Knox Promise works

Under the program, all tuition is covered for students annually reporting a household income of $60,000 or less on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The following are additional eligibility qualifications:

  • The Knox Promise is open to new, current, or returning COTC students who do not already hold a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.
  • Eligible students must be current Knox County residents who have lived in the county for at least one year.
  • Recipients must be enrolled in an aid-eligible COTC degree or certificate program at any COTC campus or online. The program is available to full- and part-time students studying on campus or remotely.

“More people are eligible for scholarships and grants than they realize,” David Brillhart, chief financial officer for COTC, said. “We tried to make the program easy and to get a very simple message out there: Free College. We wanted people who don’t believe they can afford college to think, ‘Hey, I could do that!’ This wonderful program makes college accessible to anyone who qualifies.”

Students attest to the Knox Promise impact

Based on student responses, the Knox Promise program makes a difference.

•“I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for being selected as a Knox Promise Student at Central Ohio Technical College. It is with great honor and appreciation that I accept this generous scholarship.

Upon completing my degree, I aspire to take the NCLEX, become employed at a nearby hospital, and start working on my bachelor’s degree, ultimately working toward becoming a nurse anesthetist. This scholarship will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in enabling me to fulfill my aspirations and make a positive impact in my community and beyond.” ~N.S.

•“I want to thank you for choosing me as a Knox Promise Student. I am a single mother of a 3-year-old. I am looking forward to following my dreams in pursuing a degree in criminal justice, focusing on juvenile probation. This scholarship will help me tremendously! It’s just one less thing I must worry about and can continue to focus on my education and my family. So, thank you again for choosing me to be a Knox Promise Student!” ~M.H.

•“I am attending COTC to get my license in LPN. I have two girls who look up to their momma, and I want a better life for them and myself. This scholarship is going to help my career grow. I want to thank you for this fantastic gift!” ~C.F.

“Since the program’s inception, half of the Knox County students at COTC were eligible under the financial criteria, and 100 percent of them received funding,” Brillhart said. “The process is simple: Students simply enroll in COTC and complete their FAFSA.

“Every student’s application is scanned for eligibility. If they qualify, they automatically receive an email that says ‘Congratulations! You are a Knox Promise Scholar, and your tuition is covered.’”

Knox County Foundation partners with community donors to fund Knox Promise

“We’re always interested in talking to community-minded people who want to be part of the good work that’s happening in Knox County,” Scott said. “In order to sustain this program, we will need additional funding partners. Our hope is that others will want to be part of this effort.”

He added that interested individuals can contact him directly.

“There’s something special about Knox County,” Brillhart said. “When we announced that we were opening a campus in Mount Vernon, the community came together, helped us find a property, and then raised $5 million to renovate it.

“This doesn’t happen everywhere! It just demonstrates the generosity of this community and the way donors support projects that benefit others.

“Knox Promise is having a generational impact on our community,” Brillhart added. “We’ve seen it: people moving out of poverty when they’ve completed their degrees. We’re thrilled that, with Knox County Foundation, we can continue to help people achieve the dream of getting an education and bettering their lives.”

For more information on the KCF’s partnership with donors, collaboration with nonprofit organizations or strategic initiatives, visit www.knoxcf.org or call 740-392-3270. Knox County Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Knox County through charitable giving.

From the Knox County Foundation October 2, 2024