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The morning of April 28 is one that Haley Attix, Haleema Begum, and Amber Parker won’t soon forget. A representative from the Goodnight Scholars program at NC State University called to share the verdict.

“When I received the phone call, I was in complete and utter shock,” Parker said. “There was some squealing, crying, and many many thank you’s.”

All three students were finalists for the program and all three students are now Goodnight Scholars in the Transfer Class of 2024. They will each receive $21,000 per academic year, renewable for up to three years, to attend NC State.

“I was filled with such a sense of relief,” Attix said. “Just the thought of graduating college without student loans is so much bigger than I could ever have imagined.”

They were selected among 48 finalists across North Carolina, including 22 community colleges, 22 counties, and 5 NC State academic colleges.

“This scholarship gives me the freedom to pursue a career I feel really good about, and feel like I’m making a difference, even if it doesn’t make a lot of money because I don’t have to worry about paying off student loans as soon as I graduate,” Attix said. “I am just incredibly grateful and excited about the future.”

Each finalist demonstrated exceptional community college accomplishments, including academic performance, extracurricular involvement, community engagement, and inspiring goals in the STEM and education fields.

“When I received the call, I felt so excited and grateful,” Begum said. “This scholarship not only covers my tuition fees at the university, but it will allow me to spend more time focusing on my studies and improving my leadership skills rather than doing part-time work.”

The scholarship is available to low and middle-income families from North Carolina and is limited to students studying in the STEM disciplines or affiliated education majors.

“This scholarship is providing me the opportunity to focus on my studies and presenting me with opportunities to take this newfound knowledge and share with future generations,” Parker said. “I’m also becoming a part of a community that is driven for change. I can’t wait to get acquainted with the other Goodnight Scholars and find my place at NC State.”

Attix, Begum, and Parker will start classes at NC State in Fall 2021.

Learn more about the Goodnight Scholars program.
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