STCC student touts benefits of applying for scholarships, financial aid
STCC student Salman Nadeem
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Thanks to scholarships and financial aid, Springfield Technical Community College student Salman Nadeem is paying almost nothing out of his pocket to get a high-quality education.
Nadeem, 19, who hopes to one day be a nurse, comes from a low-income family and would not be able to go to college without financial help.
“I chose STCC because it’s an affordable option, and it offers a good education,” said Nadeem, a Springfield resident. “I didn’t want to feel weighed down by college debt.”
Nadeem applied for scholarships and federal and state financial aid. He completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as “FAFSA,” and received grants in addition to other awards.
The STCC Foundation now is accepting applications for 45 scholarships it oversees. Visit stcc.edu/scholarships to learn more about how to apply and deadlines. Other scholarship opportunities are available outside of the Foundation.
STCC, the only technical community college in Massachusetts, offers degree and certificate programs with pathways to in-demand careers as well as transfer opportunities to four-year institutions. The college gives students an opportunity to choose from 87 programs in business, healthcare, human services, urban studies, liberal arts, and STEM fields — many of which are not available anywhere else in the region.
“Where else can you get a quality technical education and experience or up to two years of transferable credits and degree at such an affordable price?” said Dr. Shai Butler, Interim Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs.
Butler encourages current students and anyone considering coming to STCC to apply for scholarships to help make the experience even more affordable.
“Some students don’t realize they qualify for many of the scholarships we offer through the STCC Foundation,” Butler said. “We encourage look at the various scholarships, and if they meet the qualifications, apply.”
I chose STCC because it’s an affordable option, and it offers a good education. I didn't want to feel weighed down by college debt.Salman Nadeem, STCC student and scholarship recipient
Nadeem earned the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship and a scholarship in memory of Judge William J. Boyle, a STCC graduate who died in 2019. The William J. Boyle Scholarship is awarded to a student from Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy who attends to go to STCC.
The website for the scholarship includes a 2017 quote from Judge Boyle: “Even though we didn’t have money, I always wanted to go to college. And it was a big challenge because there were not scholarships and financial aid like there are today.”
The scholarship honors Boyle’s legacy and will “allow a student who may be fighting those same odds have the means to succeed in higher education.”
“I got the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship for scoring in the advanced category on my MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) test,” Nadeem said. “That really helped take down some of my tuition. I received the Judge Boyle Scholarship which also helped me with my tuition. I got that from writing a piece about Springfield.
“I feel really passionately about Springfield,” Nadeem added. “I feel it’s great but it could be a lot better, especially when it comes to the education system pertaining to kindergarten through 12th grade.”
Nadeem is studying applied psychology at STCC, with a goal of getting into the nursing program. He described how STCC helped him decide on a major.
“When I decided to come to STCC, I printed out every major, and there are a lot of them. I crossed out every one that was not appealing to me,” Nadeem said. “If you don’t find one thing that might spark your interest, you’ll find another.”
Nadeem encourages students and anyone thinking of becoming a student at STCC to apply for a scholarship in addition to completing the FAFSA. He said he took nine classes in the fall semester and paid “almost nothing” out of pocket.
This spring, he’s taking four classes including two labs and said he pays nothing out of pocket.
“I always tell every one of my friends who are applying for college, even my high school friends, to apply to every scholarship you can,” Nadeem said. “You never know. You might win it. Even if you don’t, it was worth a shot. You built your skills, because you need to write an essay to apply. It builds your character. It’s good for you. You have nothing to lose."
Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.
About Springfield Technical Community College
STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu