FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison and FTCC President Dr. J. Larry Keen shake hands at a ceremony announcing FSU’s FTCC Keen Scholarship program on Feb. 3, 2022. [Photo by Brad Losh]
Fayetteville State University today announced a major scholarship that will provide two years of free tuition at FSU to qualified Fayetteville Technical Community College
students who earn an associate degree at FTCC.
FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison announced the scholarship program on Thursday, Feb. 3, at a ceremony at FTCC. The announcement ceremony was a surprise for Keen, who has been
FTCC’s president since 2007 and who recently announced his plan to retire on Jan. 1, 2023.
“It is my honor to announce that beginning this fall, FSU and FTCC have partnered to offer a new scholarship – the FTCC Keen Scholarship – which is a pathway for FTCC students who
have earned an associate degree and who meet the minimum requirements to earn a scholarship of up to $1,000,” Allison said.
The scholarship, called The FTCC Keen Scholarship in honor of FTCC President Dr. J. Larry Keen, will be available to 150 FTCC graduates in 2022-23; 200 FTCC graduates in 2023-24; 250
FICC graduates in 2024-25; and 300 FTCC graduates in succeeding years. Over the first four years of the program, the scholarship can serve 900 students with a total investment by FSU of $900.000.
FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison addresses the crowd at a ceremony announcing FSU’s FTCC Keen Scholarship program on Feb. 3, 2022. [Photo by Brad Losh]
Keen expressed his deep appreciation for the scholarship program.
“It is a tremendous honor to be linked to an initiative that will be so transformative for so many students,” he said. “Thank you, Chancellor Allison and FSU. Our strong partnership will benefit our students, our community and our state.”
Keen said the scholarship program would help fulfill FTCC’s goal of broadening opportunities for all students.
“I love the people we serve,” Keen said. “We take every single person who comes to us and we take them from where they are and help them go as far as they can. And this will help us do that.”
“FSU has established, in partnership with FTCC, the FTCC Keen Scholarship in honor of Dr. Larry Keen, my colleague, friend and outstanding president of FTCC,” Allison said. “Just think
of the major impact we could have in the first four years of this program where nearly 900 FTCC Keen Scholars would have matriculated onto FSU’s campus receiving $900,000 in scholarship funding. What a testament to the legacy of such a leader, and what a major opportunity for Fayetteville and Cumberland County to capitalize on.”
The FTCC Keen Scholarship for FTCC students will provide a seamless transition for matriculating students to Fayetteville State University. Students who apply should have earned an associate degree from FTCC, have a minimum GPA of at least 3.0 and meet all requirements for admissions to FSU. Priority will be given to high demand work-force majors such as nursing, business analytics, intelligence studies and cybersecurity.
In addition to scholarship funds, the agreement establishes a full-time FSU academic advisor position that will be housed on FTCC’s campus to provide students with guidance in following a clear pathway from FTCC programs to FSU.
FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison (left), FTCC President Dr. J. Larry Keen and UNC System President Peter Hans at a ceremony announcing FSU’s FTCC Keen Scholarship on Feb. 3, 2022. [Photo by Brad Losh]
“The global pandemic has compounded the economic challenges faced by our state and nation,” said Dr. Mark Sorrells, FTCC’s Senior Vice President for Academics and Student Services. “These unique challenges have negatively impacted students at all levels, especially those from economically distressed areas. FTCC is proud to join forces with FSU to announce a special partnership that will assist students in achieving greater economic and social mobility through increased educational opportunities that align with our community’s needs. The partnership is funded by the generosity of FSU and support from the UNC System.”
Trustees and administration from both institutions, as well as elected state and local officials and esteemed members of the community were in attendance for Thursday’s ceremony. UNC System President Peter Hans, who previously served as N.C. Community Colleges President gave his regards before introducing Keen to speak.
“I know first hand that our community colleges are home to thousands of fantastically talented North Carolinians who are eager for opportunity and ready to earn it,” Hans said. “The Keen Scholarship programs honors their ambitions and enhances the whole state by offering a clear pathway and financial support to students who are ready to take the next step in their lives and their careers.”
FTCC President Dr. J. Larry Keen speaks at a ceremony announcing FSU’s FTCC Keen Scholarship program. [Photo by Brad Losh]
