91探花

Concord, N.H. (June 30, 2026) 鈥撎�91探花听has donated an听additional听$100,000 to the Student Emergency Aid Fund it helped create in 2024 with听, bringing its total contribution to $280,000. The fund, which has already supported听276听蝉迟耻诲别苍迟蝉听across the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH), helps cover short-term, non-academic expenses such as food, housing, childcare, and transportation so that students can stay enrolled and focused on their studies.听

鈥淥ur students are resilient and hardworking but their lives are complicated, often balancing school with jobs and family responsibilities, and the last thing we want — and the last thing that New Hampshire鈥檚 employers want — is for their plans to be derailed by one of life鈥檚 unexpected challenges, particularly if it鈥檚 one that can be easily resolved,鈥� said Dr. Mark Rubinstein, 听Chancellor. 鈥淚n the first two years since 91探花 made the initial investment in this fund, this initiative has helped more than 270 students, often with grants of a few hundred dollars, that have meant the difference between dropping out and staying on track for a degree in healthcare, automated manufacturing, education, or many other pursuits that New Hampshire needs them to fill.鈥�

The average award is听approximately听$600.听The top needs are housing, transportation, and food.听Such needs, left unmet, can spiral quickly.听That was the case for听Jenna, a massage therapy听student at Great Bay听Community College听in 2025,听who faced illness followed by multiple car problems. 鈥淚 wouldn’t have been able to survive the school year without it,鈥� she said.听听

Transportation can be particularly problematic. 鈥淚t escalates. It morphs into another problem,鈥� said Julie Dockery, Student Support Coordinator at Great Bay Community College. 鈥淎s students听can’t听get to school, they lean toward the online classes, which means they听don’t听have support, they听don’t听access the food pantry because they听can’t听get to school. 鈥� They become more isolated.鈥�

The need is tangible in the applications themselves.听鈥淭he tires on our car are cracking they are so old, we have no food in the house or way to get to a food pantry,鈥� one awardee, an Early Childhood Education student at Great Bay Community College,听stated听in her application.听鈥淚 have exhausted all other resources.鈥�听

An听HVAC student at Manchester Community College described a similar听challenge:听鈥淓ven when I work full time it鈥檚 still hard to put food on the table along with necessities like bills and school clothes for my daughter.鈥澨�听

鈥淢any of the needs turn out to be the last straw in a series of challenges,鈥� said Kelly Nolan, Student Success Coach at River Valley Community College. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an outstanding听investment in our students, and we are grateful.鈥�听

The donation is part of a growing emphasis by Granite听Edvance听on addressing basic needs so students can remain in school and focused on their studies.听In addition to the $280,000 provided to CCSNH since 2024, Granite听Edvance听has donated $200,000 to student aid funds in the University System of New Hampshire and contributed food and financial support to its food pantries.听

鈥淗elping students pay their tuition bills is important, but we also want to ensure they can stay in school and succeed,鈥� said Granite听Edvance听President and CEO Christiana Thornton. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to continue this wonderful partnership to assist more students in reaching their goals.鈥�听

The impact, staff say, goes beyond finances. 鈥淪ome of these students sat in my office because they didn’t know if they could finish, and because of (Granite听Edvance鈥檚) generosity, we were able to build that bridge and get them across the finish line,” said Amy Vazifdar, Director of Student Support and Engagement at Nashua Community College.听听

听“This support reinforces a sense of stability and belonging,” said Dr. Mark Desmarais, Vice President of Student Affairs at White Mountains Community College. “It shows students that the college, CCSNH, and Granite听Edvance听are invested in their well-being and committed to helping them persist through challenges.”听听

About CCSNH
The Community College System of New Hampshire consists of seven colleges offering associate听degree and certificate programs, professional training, transfer pathways to four-year degrees and dual-credit partnerships with N.H. high schools. Colleges include Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth; Lakes Region Community College in Laconia; Manchester Community College; Nashua Community College; NHTI 鈥� Concord鈥檚 Community College; River Valley Community College in Claremont,听Lebanon听and Keene; and White Mountains Community College in Berlin and Littleton. CCSNH serves more than 25,000 students statewide, providing affordable access to a high-quality education. For more information, visit听.听

听About The Foundation for NH Community Colleges
The Foundation for NH Community Colleges supports the Community College System of New Hampshire by securing and stewarding resources to听assist听students, enhance teaching and learning, and strengthen New Hampshire鈥檚 workforce. Through its partnerships with donors, businesses, and community organizations, the Foundation helps ensure higher education听remains听accessible and affordable for all Granite Staters.听To learn more about supporting community college students, visit听.听

听About Granite听Edvance听

Granite听Edvance听is a New Hampshire nonprofit that supports NH students and their families through free career and higher-education counseling and resources, as well as through funding听assistance听including scholarships and competitive private student loans. Established in 1962, the organization听rebranded听as Granite听Edvance听in November 2023. Granite听Edvance听Corporation offers private student loan products, including the Granite听Edvance听Student Loan, the听EdvestinU听Private Student Loan, the Granite听Edvance听Refinance Loan, the听EdvestinU听Refinance Loan, Granite听Edvance听Parent Loan, and the Graduate Loan Program. Loans offered by Granite听Edvance听Corporation may be funded by Granite听Edvance听Corporation or Bank of Lake Mills, member FDIC.鈥�鈥�听

###听

听