The Columbia College Foundation has launched its new Finish Line Scholarship Program that will offer $100,000 in scholarship support for Columbia students who can attend fulltime and finish their degrees or certificates by May 2022.

Students who apply online by Tuesday, June 1 have a chance at 20 awards of up to $5,000 per year ($2,500 per semester) beginning in Fall 2021. To be considered, students must be at least halfway to completing a degree or certificate of achievement, have a minimum grade point average of 2.5, qualify for a state fee waiver and be able to enroll fulltime (or equivalent) while receiving the award. Financial need will be a consideration.

Students can learn more about program requirements and complete a short online application by June 1 at gocolumbia.edu/scholarships.

“The Finish Line Scholarship Program is a life-changing opportunity for our students,” said Columbia College Foundation President Jeff Warren. “So many are juggling family, jobs, and other responsibilities. This program aims to give them significant support so they can focus full time on school, and complete their educational goals here, whether that’s career training or an associate’s degree that takes them on to a four-year university. This helps them prepare for better jobs and better futures.”

CCF expects to offer the Finish Line Scholarship every semester at Columbia for the next four years, as part of a partnership with the Foundation for California Community College’s and its Finish Line Scholars Program. Both Columbia and Modesto Junior College are among 34 California Community Colleges included in the program, which was made by possible by a $100 million gift from the Jay Pritzker Foundation to the state’s community college system over the next 20 years. The Pritzker gift marks the largest pledge ever to community colleges in the nation. Statewide, the Finish Line Scholars Program targets regions with low college degree attainment, including the Central Valley and many rural areas of the state. The goal is to help students in these regions complete their degrees.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring this program to Columbia students,” said Amy Nilson, CCF executive director. “It’s by far the largest scholarship program we’ve been able to offer, and we know it will be a huge boost to some of our most motivated and resourceful students.”