US: Turning A new Leaf with Tobacco Money

Source from:  Godanriver.com 12/15/2014

The Virginia Tobacco Commission is helping more and more students in the Dan River Region with an expanded scholarship program - providing about $400,000 to Danville Community College students this year.

"Hundreds of students are feeling the positives of the tobacco buyout," said DCC Educational Foundation's Executive Director Shannon Hair.

The tobacco commission started its scholarship program in 2002 in the tobacco-dependent regions of Southwest and Southside Virginia. Originally, residents had to show a family connection to tobacco farmers to participate in the program, as it was designed to help educate families of farmers who no longer could depend on tobacco for their livelihoods.

However, as more and more tobacco families moved out of the region, Hair, in his first year with DCC, asked the commission leaders for another way to get scholarships to Southside residents back in 2010.

"I uncovered that DCC was not asking nearly enough for dollars," he said.

Hair asked the commission if it could open up the program to students enrolled in STEM-designated classes.

"Ultimately, they provided us an opportunity for us to ask for more money," Hair said. "Now, we have students who do not have to be tied to a tobacco family."

Seth Walker was able to receive help from the tobacco scholarships last year, when he began to attend DCC. Seth's mother, Virginia, said he originally was thinking about either studying to be a teacher or to learn to fix heating and air conditioning units. However, after talking with Hair about scholarship options, Seth enrolled in the college's precision machining program.

After two years in the program, Seth said he welcomed the new field of study.

"I definitely like it a lot," he said. "It's a big change up. I like to get my hands on something after doing so much bookwork."

Seth said he enjoyed being able to work at his own pace and in his own time on projects and liked the support of teachers. Virginia said Seth's father even bought him his own set of tools for his classes.

Virginia Walker said the scholarships had been incredibly helpful for the family, who come from a tradition of tobacco farming and live on 26 acres in Pittsylvania County.

"We love DCC," she said. "My son has really loved going there and really appreciates all the help he's gotten."

When Hair talked with the commission staff in 2011, the college's scholarship amount jumped dramatically from $100,000 to more than $250,000 in 2012. Each following year, STEM scholarships have grown as family scholarships have shrunk. Overall, DCC took in almost four times as much scholarship funding from the commission this year as it did in 2011.

"It shows our forefathers still live strong in scholarships at two-year and four-year institutions," Hair said.

The tobacco commission was formed in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, with the goal of promoting economic growth in tobacco-dependent communities. The commission used funds from the 1998 tobacco settlement lawsuit, which dolled out more than $200 billion to states over the course of 25 years.
Since 1999, the commission has given out more than $1 billion in state grant money. It has also provided grower and quota-holders with more than $309 million in indemnification payments.

Virginia said her son and the family are incredibly grateful for the opportunities provided by the commission and DCC.

"It's been a true blessing to us," she said. Enditem