Laura enrolled at BRCC in the summer of 1995, starting in the computer programming curriculum. Going to school full-time necessitated her relying on government aid. She received Aid for Dependent Children, Medicaid and food stamps through the Department of Social Services and participated in the Work First program there. Juggling a consistently heavy academic load, work-study job and single parenting and single parenting responsibilities, Laura completed the three programs this spring with a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and a new outlook on life. Laura's not about to stop now, though, as she has enrolled in the Montreat College School of Professional and Adult Studies' first class on the BRCC campus and expects to earn her bachelor's degree in 21 months.
Graduate study comes next.
I've told Laura that I wish she'd come back and teach for us some day. A better, more enthusiastic advocate for the value of education would be hard to find. Representatives of more than 70 colleges and universities are expected to participate. The recipient must demonstrate good moral character, a willingness to work, and a clear educational objective. The agreement is similar to another between the two colleges by which BRCC students can take first-year courses in SWCC's new Speech and Language Pathology Assistant program here.