May 08, 2021
Christian Payne did not know how he was going to afford college, so as a high school freshman he enrolled in the Surry Early College at Surry Community College hoping to at least be able to get an associate degree through the tuition-free early college program.
“I grew up in a low-income home wondering how I would be able to pay for college. It is because of the generous scholarships that I received from Appalachian State and others, that allowed me to complete my undergraduate degree with no debt,” Payne said. “As a young child, I never would have considered this a possibility. This is a testament that hard work is rewarded, and that students can rise above challenges.”