By Richy Honeycutt
Lenoir Community College
Chermika Jones of La Grange was in her final two semesters of her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program at a neighboring community college when she discovered her financial aid had run out and she would not be able to cover the cost of tuition out of pocket.
Jones was receiving public assistance, but with the cost of raising a family on her own while working part-time, she was struggling to make ends meet and knew she needed help if she wanted to finish her degree.
“I was referred to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult program at Lenoir Community College. With the help from Mrs. Ika Grant, my career advisor, I was able to secure funding for my last two semesters of college,” Jones said.