"What we hope for is you don't just have to move to this region for those opportunities, but you can move up in this region for those opportunities. That's what Wake Tech's about, and that's really what this Boost program is about to accelerate and propel students," said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls.
Boost has three direct benefits: providing dedicated advisors for participating students, specialized activities toward transferring to a four-year school or career in the industry, and a $100 monthly stipend based on grade and attendance requirements.
"It definitely provides that nurtured support while also having that financial backing as well, but then also helping develop these traits themselves so (we) can take these characteristics and kind of carry them on and then build them up," said Keyera Redding, one of more than 80 Wake Tech students in the program.
Ralls explained that financial barriers are often an issue disproportionately affecting community college students.
"We serve a higher proportion of low-income students. They're also often living on the edge. So what can be a life event? A car that breaks down, a housing situation can be an event that causes them to stop out. Our statistics show when they stop out more frequently, they actually end up dropping out," Ralls said.
He said the school hopes to double the number of participants for the spring semester.
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"When we were hearing about their projections to increase and double the rate of students in the program, that excited me so much. And if I can do anything to help support that, I'm going to," said Redding.
Employers have often cited North Carolina's higher education system, including specific training offered at community colleges, as a key reason behind decisions to open or expand operations in the state.
Redding, who plans to pursue a degree in biochemistry at Appalachian State, also pointed to networking opportunities within Boost.
"With that preparation and that cultivation through the collaborative process, it helps us build a stronger sense of confidence as well. Like we know that we can connect with our peers in a sense, and not even just academically, but also like just connecting about our general interests. Being able to meet with people from all different walks of life is just all the more important because you get to really see who's in your community," Redding said.
Boost is backed by a $35.6 million grant from Arnold Ventures, which is the largest private investment in the history of the state's Community College System.