Student’s career path boosted by PJC scholarship programs

Published or Revised May 21, 2018

Spencer Godwin of Blossom, a senior at Prairiland High School, is receiving a boost in his pursuit of a career in surgery technology, thanks to two scholarship programs offered by Paris Junior College. One covers free tuition for one summer class, and the other is for his classes starting in the fall. “I’ve been taking English and Texas Government (as dual credit classes in high school),” said Godwin. “It’s been a challenge, but I’ve made my way through it. I enjoy the feeling that you can pass those with a promise that you keep going to PJC. I’m taking pharmacology and microbiology this summer; then in the fall I’m starting on my path towards Surgical Technology by taking prerequisite classes.” The summer tuition scholarship is available to graduating seniors from high schools in the PJC service area in Delta, Lamar, Hunt, Hopkins, and Red River counties, and part of Fannin County. Students may choose a workforce class leading to a career or an academic class, including those from Texas’ core curriculum, for transfer to a university. One class from either Summer I or Summer II semester qualifies. To help Lamar and Red River county students succeed starting in the fall, PJC offers the Promise scholarship programs. The PJC Memorial Foundation has made $1 million available for 2018-19 academic year scholarships. Students residing in those counties are eligible if they have successfully completed the required number of dual credit or concurrent college credits offered by PJC and meet other criteria. In Lamar County, the Promise scholarship will cover remaining college tuition and general fee balance for either an academic or workforce program, up to 60 hours, after PELL and other state grant/scholarship programs are applied. In Red River County, the Stanley Tate Davis PJC Academic Promise applies to academic programs, with the same criteria. Both scholarship programs will help him achieve his goals, Godwin believes. “I hope to finish and become a surgical tech and find a good atmosphere where I can work in a hospital alongside a good doctor,” said Spencer, “and continue my career and make a living. I’m excited.” The link to the scholarship application may be found at /scholarships. High school seniors wanting the summer class scholarship should enter “graduating senior 2018” in the scholarship application box that asks for “semester/year to attend PJC.” Other scholarships are available to all students residing in the PJC service center. Those wishing to apply for fall scholarships should select fall - and they need to apply now. Filling out the FAFSA is also required; go to www.fafsa.gov. Summer and fall registration is going on now at PJC. For questions or more information, contact Amie Cato at 903-782-0431 or acato@parisjc.edu or Sheila Reece at 903-782-0211 or sreece@parisjc.edu. For the Admissions Office and general registration questions, call 903-782-0425.