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Brandon native Tori Bailey didn’t originally plan to come to ��«Ӱҵ after she graduated last May.

Her aspirations were to attend a university but less than “plentiful” scholarships, to use her word, put a hitch in that plan. Then last January she heard a ��«Ӱҵ recruiter speak at a Brandon High School assembly.

 “I talked with a friend about how stressful all of the college decisions were, and we began to think about the community college route,” Bailey recalled. “The class sizes were smaller on average at ��«Ӱҵ, so I would be able to get more out of my lessons. Community college would also be much more affordable than a four-year school. This was a major selling point since I would have to pay for my college education myself.”

Bailey applied to ��«Ӱҵ and received a ��«Ӱҵ Foundation scholarship to help pay for her education, “allowing me to spend less time working to pay for my education and more time focusing on my classes and being involved on campus,” she said.

She was among more than 600 students to receive a foundation scholarship in the 2016-2017 year. About 85 percent of students at ��«Ӱҵ receive financial aid of some kind.

New or current students who want to apply for a ��«Ӱҵ Foundation Scholarship for this fall must meet an earlier deadline this year: They have until Feb. 15 to turn in their complete application packets.

The application process for Foundation Scholarships is easy. Students can access the required forms on the college web site under the Admissions tab at or .

Students must submit the following documents by Feb. 15 to be considered for a ��«Ӱҵ Foundation Scholarship:

• An application for admission to ��«Ӱҵ. This application is available on the website at .

• An application for Foundation Scholarships that includes a summary of why the applicant feels he/she should be considered for a scholarship, a list of achievements and a brief statement of any special financial needs. Also submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is preferred but not required.

• High school and/or college transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for scholarship purposes. Transcripts must demonstrate a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 in order to be considered.  If the transcript does not include a cumulative GPA, students must submit a verification form completed by the high school counselor. The form is found on the college website.

• A copy of their ACT scores, if not posted on the high school transcript, or GED scores, if applicable.

• Three recommendations from individuals (i.e. – school, church, community/civic organizations or work). Students may use the recommendation form available on the website at . It is the student’s responsibility to provide copies of the form to the individuals who are providing their recommendations and to have those submitted by the Feb. 15 deadline.

The ��«Ӱҵ Foundation manages nearly 300 scholarship funds.  The Foundation awards more than 600 student scholarships ranging from $300 to $2,400.

Another scholarship opportunity for high school seniors is the ACT scholarship. ACT scholarships range from $1,000-$3,000 per semester. Students who attend ��«Ӱҵ as their first college after high school graduation will automatically receive an ACT scholarships if they have a 21 or above on the ACT. Eligible recipients must also be a Mississippi resident. For more information about the ACT scholarship, please visit .

For more information on Foundation Scholarship requirements, please call 601.857.3744 or email to scholarships@hindscc.edu.

��«Ӱҵ is celebrating its 100^th year of Community Inspired Service in 2017. ��«Ӱҵ opened in September 1917 first as an agricultural high school and admitted college students for the first time in 1922, with the first class graduating in 1927. In 1982 ��«Ӱҵ Junior College and Utica Junior College merged, creating the ��«Ӱҵ District. Today, as Mississippi’s largest community college, ��«Ӱҵ is a comprehensive institution with six locations. ��«Ӱҵ offers quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills. To learn more, visit or call 1.800.��«ӰҵCC.

[tweetable alt=””]Apply for a ��«Ӱҵ CC Foundation Scholarship by Feb. 15.[/tweetable]