EOC Overcoming Barriers Scholarship

EOC Overcoming Barriers Scholarship

Funder: Texarkana College Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), with support from community donations (e.g., Texarkana Housing Authority)

Geographic Scope: Bowie and Cass County residents in Texas

Program Status: Active and ongoing since at least 2018

Overview:
The Overcoming Barriers Scholarship is a signature scholarship program established by TC's Educational Opportunity Center to provide financial support to students facing unexpected expenses and financial strains that might otherwise cause them to drop out. Donations from Bowie and Cass County businesses and residents fund this scholarship.

Eligibility:

All participants of the EOC program may apply

Selection criteria include:

- Academic achievement
- Community and school involvement
- Character
- Demonstration of financial need
- Adherence to scholarship criteria

Recipients are selected by a committee that interviews each eligible applicant

Focus Areas:

Support for low-income and first-generation college students

Students enrolled in higher education programs

Program Contact:

Educational Opportunity Center Director: Lee Williams, III

Address: Texarkana College, 2500 North Robison Road, Texarkana, TX 75599

Phone: (903) 823-3456

Website: https://www.texarkanacollege.edu/educational-opportunity-center/

Background:
The EOC is a federally funded TRIO program established in 2016 with support from a US Department of Education grant. Services are provided free of charge to eligible participants. Since 2016, EOC participants have secured over $100,000 in external scholarships combined.