SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College announces that scholarships are available for the fall, spring and summer semesters through a grant made by the Golden LEAF Foundation to the North Carolina Community College System.

Eligible students must demonstrate financial need and reside in rural counties that are tobacco-dependent and/or economically distressed. These include Harnett and Lee counties within the college's designated service area, as well as a number of counties which are outside its designated service area, some of which are home to CCCC students.

Curriculum students may apply for up to $750 per semester and occupational education students are eligible for up to $250 per term.

Golden LEAF Scholarships can be used to assist with tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation and childcare expenses related to attending classes during the 2012-13 academic year and mid-skills credential testing, upon course completion.

"CCCC is pleased to offer another avenue of financial aid for many of our students," said CCCC President Bud Marchant. "A quality education is critical for success in the job market and the generosity of the Golden Leaf Foundation will help to open the doors to that success."

The deadline for applications for the fall semester is Friday, Sept. 14. Contact CCCC's Financial Aid Office at 919-718-7229 or visit the Student Services office at a local CCCC campus for information about the scholarship program and an application.

The statewide Golden LEAF Scholarship program is funded through a $750,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. The GLF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation devoted to strengthening the economic well being of North Carolinians through grants in the areas of education, workforce preparedness, job creation and retention, and economic vitality. It was created in 1999 by the North Carolina legislature and is funded by one-half of the state's share of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement that cigarette manufacturers signed with 46 states in 1998.

"The Golden LEAF Foundation is proud to have awarded over 4,900 Golden LEAF scholarships to help North Carolinians attend our state's community colleges," said Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF president. "Our hope is that these scholarships will help build the talent, knowledge and skills of our current and future workforce, which are in demand by industry, especially in the rural areas of our state."

Residents of the following counties are eligible for Golden LEAF scholarships: Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Burke, Caldwell, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Davie, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Haywood, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Macon, Madison, Martin, McDowell, Mitchell, Montgomery, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin and Yancey.