Golden LEAF Scholarship Applications due March 15

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Golden LEAF Scholarship information and applications for 2010-11 are now available at CFNC.org/seaastudent.   These $3,000 annual scholarships are funded by a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation, a long-term economic advancement foundation, and administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA).      

To be considered as a first-time recipient, an applicant must:

• Be enrolled in fall 2010 as a full-time, degree-seeking freshman or be a transfer from a North Carolina community college to one of the 16 campuses of the University of North Carolina who has not received prior funds from this program
• Be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes living in one of 78 qualifying counties (see attached list of eligible counties)
• Have demonstrated financial need (value of a family farm is not considered).

Candidates who can demonstrate that their immediate families were adversely affected by the decline in the tobacco industry will be given priority consideration.

To be considered for scholarship renewal, an applicant must be currently enrolled and receiving a Golden Leaf Scholarship at one of the 16 public universities in North Carolina, not currently classified as a senior, planning to continue in 2010-11 as an undergraduate student.  Renewal candidates must reside within the state of North Carolina, maintain a 2.0 cumulative Grade Point Average and demonstrate financial need (value of family farm  is not considered when determining need.)

Golden LEAF Scholarship opportunities may also be available for community college students.  Details are under the community college link at CFNC.org/goldenleaf.

The priority application deadline is March 15, 2010.  Students who apply after this date will be considered if funds remain available.  Four-year public university students currently receiving Golden LEAF awards will be notified by mail regarding the renewal application procedure.

For more information, contact College Foundation of North Carolina toll-free at 866-866-CFNC.  

About College Foundation of North Carolina

College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC), a free service of the State of North Carolina provided by Pathways, College Foundation, Inc. and the State Education Assistance Authority, helps students plan, apply and pay for college.

The State Education Assistance Authority is the State agency that promotes access to higher education by administering financial aid and savings programs, informing students and families about paying for college, teaching educators about financial aid administration, and advocating for resources to support students.

Pathways is a state-based initiative including North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction, the University of North Carolina System, the North Carolina Community Colleges, and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities working together to increase access to college for all North Carolinians.  

College Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation serving North Carolina students and families since 1955, administers a portfolio of more than $2 billion, including low-interest federal education loans, the state's college grant programs and the tax-free "529" college savings program on behalf of the State Education Assistance Authority.

Golden LEAF Scholarship

Participating Public Universities:

Appalachian State University

East Carolina University

Elizabeth City State University

Fayetteville State University

North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina Central University

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

North Carolina State University

University of North Carolina at Asheville

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Western Carolina University

Winston-Salem State University

Applicants must reside in one of the following counties to be eligible:

Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Burke, Caldwell, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Davie, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Haywood, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Martin, McDowell, Mitchell, Montgomery, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin or Yancey  

SOURCE College Foundation of North Carolina