$28G grant to support scholarships at FSU

The Community Foundation of North Central

Massachusetts has awarded Fitchburg State University $28,000 for scholarships that will be awarded to students in the North Central Massachusetts Early College Academy.

The funds will support renewable scholarships to local students from underrepresented populations who plan to attend Fitchburg State.

“Fitchburg State has long been committed to helping students navigate a successful

path to college completion, and the Early College Academy will help further that goal,” Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus said.

“Given the current economic crisis in the region, this work is more important than ever. These scholarships for local students could be the difference between the students attending college or not. We are grateful to the Community Foundation for recognizing the transformative potential of the early college model and their commitment to help students achieve their ambitions,” Lapidus said.

The Early College Academy, formally designated by Gov. Charlie Baker in 2019, includes Fitchburg State, Mount Wachusett Community College, Fitchburg High School, Leominster High School, Sizer School and Gardner High School.

It is designed to increase college participation by giving students the opportunity to earn up to 12 college credits while still enrolled at their sending high schools.

To learn more about the Academy, please visit ncmearlycollege.com/.