The road to academic success often comes with unexpected twists, and for Kobe Bullock, it nearly ended before it began. But with determination and support, he turned a rocky start into a story of resilience and achievement.
Kobe first came to Vance-Granville Community College in spring 2021. Unfortunately, he struggled in an online learning environment. By the time the fall semester started, he had unenrolled with limited progress made toward completing his program. Kobe decided to start again in 2023, but his transcript from 2021 left him ineligible for federal financial aid due to lack of successful progress in his major. However, his journey was just getting started.
A member of VGCC’s Financial Aid Office recognized Kobe’s need for support and connected him with Academic Advisor Randall Thornton. They met and discussed the obstacles Kobe had experienced. Mr. Thornton helped Kobe enroll in in a program better suited to Kobe’s interests and current job outlook: Welding Technology. Kobe had been experiencing transportation difficulties, so Mr. Thornton helped Kobe utilize our partnership arrangement with local transportation service KARTS. Even though federal financial aid was not an option for tuition, Kobe qualified for the Reignite Grant Program. He reenrolled successfully at VGCC in January 2024.
All of Kobe’s hard work is already paying off. By the end of the fall 2024 semester, he had already completed the requirements for the Basic Welding Certificate—and had excelled enough that his federal financial aid was reinstated. He’s currently on track to earn his Welding Technology Diploma by the end of the fall 2025 1st 8-Week term. Then, Kobe will be getting a job!
Vance-Granville Community College is committed to supporting students with innovative approaches that connect them with both a purpose and passion. As stories like Kobe’s show, we’re driven to educate students to industry-aligned standards for jobs that pay a quality wage and inspire them to be their absolute best.
Reignite: Sparking New Beginnings
The Reignite Grant is a unique scholarship program specifically geared towards VGCC students who have lost access to the Federal Pell Grant program due to lack of satisfactory academic progress as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. Most begin college with goals, energy, and positive intent, but for some—particularly adult learners juggling many responsibilities—”life happens.” While it is possible to earn back one’s access to Pell, it must be done on private money.
The Reignite Grant is unique in that students are limited to one class per eight weeks. They must meet regularly with an assigned advisor who helps them navigate both academic and personal challenges that threaten to impede their success. In order to remain in the program, students must make an A, B, or C in the course. As students grow in their ability to navigate these challenges and gain a larger network of support, they are allowed to take an additional course each term. Once their GPA rises to 2.5 or higher and they complete all the classes for which they were registered that term, they become eligible for Pell once again.
Contributions to the Reignite Program, student emergency fund, or other student success funds are welcomed and appreciated. Please contact The VGCC Foundation for more information.
