By Holly Desrosier
Craven CC recently received a $1,000 grant from the International Paper Foundation to help purchase textbooks for the college’s Career & College Promise (CCP) program. This grant is one of many examples of the community’s unwavering support of the college in providing accessible education.
“At International Paper, we believe our company cannot succeed if our communities do not succeed,” said Catherine Burgess, communications coordinator, New Bern Mill. “We are proud to support Craven Community College as they continue to make an impact on education throughout Craven County.”
The CCP program allows high school students to take college classes that are completely tuition free. All high school juniors and seniors that reside in Craven County are eligible for the CCP program, including public, private and home-schooled students. Upon graduating high school, CCP students are then able to apply college credits toward accelerating the completion of a college certificate, diploma or associate degree. College credits are also transferrable to four-year universities.
“The generous grant apportioned by International Paper will benefit our Career & College Promise program in a multitude of positive and progressive ways,” said Executive Director of Career Programs Sarah Sawyer, who was instrumental in the grant process. “Our young students, just beginning their collegiate academic journeys here at Craven, are supported by this grant for the cost of their textbooks, which is immensely important for removing potential roadblocks to equal access to courses, course materials and creating a more equitable allocation of resources to support student engagement.”
CCP students can select from either the Career-Technical Pathway or the College Transfer Pathway. The Career-Technical Pathway is ideal for career-minded students who wish to pursue a Craven CC certificate program that aligns with their current career goals. The College Transfer Pathway is a good choice for students who plan to enroll in a transfer program to attend a four-year university, allowing them to complete many of the core general education classes required during the first two years of a four-year degree.
“Maintaining robust partnerships with industry leaders like International Paper supports not only Craven Community College’s strategic institutional mission but also enhances greater Craven County on a large and impactful scale,” added Sawyer. “We are so grateful for this grant and very appreciative of the International Paper Foundation.”
International Paper is the largest pulp and paper company in the world. It is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products, producing corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods and enable global commerce and papers that facilitate education and communication, as well as pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, International Paper employs over 50,000 employees and serves more than 25,000 customers across 150 countries.
Started in 1952, the International Paper Foundation annually provides millions of dollars in grants to nonprofit organizations to address critical needs in the communities where employees live and work. Funding priority is given to programs related to education, hunger, health and wellness, disaster relief and other benevolent initiatives.
This article was originally published in the New Bern Sun Journal on November 4, 2020.