Frequently Asked Questions
What is a scholarship?
A scholarship is a financial award offered to students to pay for tuition and other college expenses. Students apply and are matched based on specific criteria including academic achievement, financial need, or a combination of both. Some scholarship criteria are very general. Some are very specific – “For a student in the nursing program from Cumberland County with a GPA of 2.5 and above.”
What are the benefits of scholarships?
Unlike loans, scholarships do not need to be paid back. Students can save federal financial aid for a bachelor’s degree and beyond. Scholarships will reduce the financial burden on the student. Being selected for scholarships is an honor, which looks great on applications and may increase student’s chances for admission into select colleges and universities.
Where can I apply for scholarships through FTCC?
To learn more about scholarship opportunities at FTCC, visit faytechcc.edu/scholarships. To start your application for scholarships, click the link to Academic Works at https://faytechcc.academicworks.com/. You will complete the general application and may also be prompted to apply to other program-specific scholarships. You will be automatically matched to scholarships you are eligible for by completing the general application. Scholarships require a minimum GPA of 2.0; however, some scholarships require a higher GPA. Talk to your instructors, Department Chair, or Dean to learn more about scholarship opportunities in your program.
How do I log into Academic Works – what username and password do I use?
Academic Works is the scholarship portal. You log into Academic Works with your AD credentials for your student email except for one change. Replace “student” with “ad.” For example: smithx1234@ad.faytechcc.edu. Your password is the same.
I am not enrolled at FTCC yet, can I still apply for scholarships?
High school seniors who are not current High School Connections students need to contact Brittany Raines – brittanyraines@ccs.k12.nc.us – who will provide a separate link to use.
Students must be registered for the current or upcoming semester, or have an active FTCC application on file, in order to apply for scholarships through the Academic Works portal.
Is there a fee to apply for scholarships at FTCC?
There is no cost to apply.
What type of scholarships are available?
There are “auto-match” scholarships which you will be automatically matched to when you complete the general application. There are “apply to” scholarships that you may apply to after completing the general application. Some scholarships are specific to an academic program such as Nursing or Accounting. There are general scholarships that you may be selected for because of academic achievement or financial need.
External scholarships are ones that come from organizations and companies outside of FTCC and are paid to the college on your behalf. While they may be listed on the site, FTCC is not involved in the awarding process.
Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
Yes. When you complete the general application, you are automatically applied to all awards that you are eligible for that do not require additional information. You can apply to other scholarships that you are qualified for once completing the general application. These scholarship opportunities will require an additional answer to a question specific to the requirements.
How will I know if I am being awarded a scholarship?
You will receive an email from FTCC Foundation in May notifying you that you are receiving a scholarship. The email will tell you which scholarship you are receiving, the amount of the award, and what is required of you. Please check your college email often for notifications. The scholarship will be applied to your account for the Fall semester after you accept the award, upload a photo, and submit a thank you letter to be shared with the donor.
Who reviews the scholarship applications and how are the selections made?
Once the scholarship cycle closes, the applications are reviewed by a panel of reviewers made up of FTCC Faculty and Staff. The reviewers do not have the names or identifiers of students, just “blind” applications. The reviewers carefully read each application and score them based on a rubric. Next, the scholarship selection committee for each program selects students for their respective programmatic scholarship opportunities. Then, the general scholarship recipients are selected. Some scholarships, such as the Tom McLean Ambassador Program, require a separate application, an interview, and letters of recommendation before the selections are made.
How will I receive my scholarship funds? Do I receive a check?
Typically, the scholarship funds are payable to the College in the student’s name and will be added to their student account to be used for tuition, books, fees, and other appropriate educational expenses.
Are the scholarship funds payable over multiple semesters or all at once?
Most scholarships are split over the Fall and Spring semesters of the same academic year, which runs from Fall to Spring. For example, if you receive a $1,300 scholarship, $650 will be applied in August for Fall and in January $500 for Spring. If a student is graduating in December, they may request for the full scholarship to be paid in the Fall Semester. Students may also request to receive their scholarship in the summer if the scholarship agreement allows this.
Do I need to pay the scholarship money back?
Unlike student loans, these charitable grants do not need to be paid back. Scholarships reduce your financial burden.
What if my scholarship awards exceed the cost to attend FTCC? Will the surplus be paid to me?
Some scholarships allow for the balance to be disbursed to the student and other awards only allow the tuition and book amount to be awarded. If the total amount of aid received exceeds the cost to attend (tuition, books, and fees), the loans will be reduced. The unsubsidized loans will be reduced first and followed by the subsidized loans. Once the loans have been adjusted to the dollar amount that does not exceed the cost of attendance, you may receive a refund of the credit balance amount. Some scholarship agreements stipulate that credit balances may not be refunded to the student but must be returned to the scholarship fund.
Do I have to fill out a FAFSA to get a scholarship?
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required each academic year to be eligible for need-based scholarships from FTCC. It can be a straightforward and easy process. This link will explain the process and what documents are needed to apply. Completing a FAFSA will help you maximize your financial aid and opportunities for scholarships. https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
What is required of me when I accept a scholarship?
FTCC Foundation requires students to write a thank you note to the scholarship donor before the award is applied to the student’s account. The Foundation will provide guidance and examples. The thank you notes are returned to FTCC Foundation who will send them to the donors to show the impact of their generosity. These are extremely important and very much appreciated by the donors. Students are required to support the annual donor appreciation event either by attending an in-person event or preparing messages for donors. Students are required to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA or higher, as specified by the scholarship. Other requirements may include maintaining a specific number of credit hours and hours taken within the program. You will know what is required of you when you are notified of the scholarship award.
Can a scholarship be taken away once it is awarded?
Many scholarship payments are spread over the Fall and Spring semesters of the same academic year. If you do not meet the criteria such as maintaining a certain GPA or number of credit hours, it is possible that you will not receive your scholarship for the second semester. Thank you letters for donors are also required to receive a scholarship. Your scholarship award will not be applied to your account until the thank you letter is received by FTCC Foundation, who will then send it to the donors.
Will applying for a scholarship negatively impact my other aid such as Pell or VA benefits?
Scholarships should not negatively impact other financial aid. They can, in some cases, eliminate loan debt. When a student receives a scholarship, it is added to their financial aid package, which may include grants (such as Pell), subsidized and unsubsidized loans, and scholarships. If the total amount of aid received exceeds the cost to attend (tuition, books, and fees), the loans will be reduced. The unsubsidized loans will be reduced first and followed by the subsidized loans. Once the loans have been adjusted to the dollar amount that does not exceed the cost of attendance, you may receive a refund of the credit balance amount. Some scholarships stipulate that credit balances may not be refunded to the student but must be returned to the scholarship fund. If you have questions about your financial aid package, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 910.678.8242, finaid@faytechcc.edu, or visit the Tony Rand Student Center, Room 2. https://www.faytechcc.edu/financial-aid/
Are there scholarships that you can apply for more than once?
Yes. Some scholarships are renewable, but it is your responsibility to reapply each year. It is not automatic. In the description of the scholarship, it will say renewable in the scholarship description if you can apply for more than one year.
Are scholarships available for part-time students, nondegree-seeking, continuing education students, and high school students?
Each scholarship lists the criteria for the award. Some scholarships require a student to be full-time while others allow the award to go to part-time students. For information on scholarships available to Corporate & Continuing Education students, visit www.faytechcc.edu/corporate-continuing-education/.
Where can I find other scholarships?
You are encouraged to research scholarship opportunities through other sources including:
https://www.cumberlandcf.org/scholarships/resources/
https://www.cfnc.org/pay-for-college/scholarship-search/
https://www.scholarships.com/
How can I learn how to present myself well in a scholarship application?
The application is an opportunity to let the reviewers get to know you. Late and incomplete applications will not be accepted. Spelling and grammatical errors do not create a favorable impression. Read the questions and thoughtfully answer each one. Consider typing your answers first in Word, utilizing the spelling and grammar check, and then cut and paste your responses into the application. Ask a friend or instructor to proofread your responses. FTCC Foundation will be hosting Zoom sessions for students who want to learn more about applying for scholarships and ask questions. The dates and times will be announced soon.
Whom should I contact if I have questions about applying for scholarships?
Contact FTCC Foundation if you have questions at 910.678.8441 or Scholarship@faytechcc.edu.
What is FTCC Foundation’s role in the scholarship process?
FTCC Foundation manages the scholarship application and award process along with the Office of Financial Aid and other departments. The Foundation is the fundraising arm of the college. It partners with donors to support Fayetteville Technical Community College by raising awareness and financial resources to provide college access for students to attain their educational and career goals. The mission of FTCC Foundation is to foster and promote the growth, progress, and general welfare of FTCC, provide supplementary financial support to the College and its students, and advance and enrich the services provided for students, the community, alumni, faculty, and staff. FTCC Foundation manages more than 200 scholarships, endowments, and other funds.
