Lamar Community College (LCC) student Maddie Thompson has been working toward her dreams of becoming a veterinarian for as long as she can remember, and she now has the scholarships to show for it.
The Wiley, Colo. native has received thousands of dollars in scholarships to help cover the cost of her tuition at LCC from various sources. She has been awarded the Kane Family Foundation Scholarship, which awards funds to high-performing LCC students, the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) funds and several local scholarships for students from the local area. Thompson started at LCC as a concurrently enrolled high school student in 2018 and continued to take courses after she graduated.
Thompson said the process to apply for and receive scholarship funds for LCC was simple and efficient.
“The scholarship process at LCC was easy for me,” she said. “I’ve filled out many scholarship applications, and the LCC application was by far one of the easiest. When filling out the scholarship application, everything you need is easily accessible, and there was always someone at LCC who could help if I had questions.”
Yet, there are still thousands of scholarship funds available for LCC students attending during the 2021-22 academic year, and applications for these funds are down from previous years. Students can apply for multiple scholarships with one application, which is all completed online.
Currently, there are both need-based and merit-based scholarships available for students, but deadlines are approaching. The deadline for the Daniels Fund Boundless Opportunity Scholarship, which is open to adult students and those who have completed their GEDs as well as returning military, former foster care youth and juvenile justice youth, is July 30. The application for the Colorado High School Promise Scholarship, which awards up to $1,000 per student, also closes on July 30. Awards for agriculture, business, EMT and horse training management are also available, as are scholarships for senior citizens and online students.
Executive Director of the LCC Foundation Anne-Marie Crampton said the college encourages all students to apply for scholarships, and that there are many different types of awards for all kinds of students.
“Many people are hesitant to start college because they think that it might not be for them. We believe everyone can benefit from some level of college coursework or hands-on training beyond high school,” she said. “And we want to make sure students step confidently onto campus, as well as complete college with minimal student debt.”
Thompson has one more year left at LCC before she plans to transfer to West Texas A&M University. After she completes her bachelor’s degree, she plans to apply to veterinary school.