We’re helping students get through college, not just to college
Kaitlyn Kennedy and her husband鈥痗ouldn鈥檛鈥痲uite get the numbers to work. Kaitlyn鈥痺as completing鈥痗linicals for the nursing program at Great Bay Community College and needed before- and after-school care for her 5-year-old and 9-year-old children. Other budget numbers could be trimmed and squeezed, but not that one. The children were the reason鈥痵he鈥檇鈥痝one back to school after many years in the restaurant industry. That, and her caring spirit, which often had her sitting across the booth from customers, listening to their stories.鈥��
Kaitlyn had a work-study job in the food pantry at Great Bay Community College, keeping things tidy, shopping for food, and interacting with students who dropped in for food or supplies. Julie Dockery, Student Support Administrator at the school, encouraged her to apply for a grant from the Student Emergency Aid Fund.鈥�
Created in 2024 by Granite鈥疎dvance鈥痑nd the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges, the Student Emergency Aid Fund supports students at the state鈥檚 seven community colleges with unexpected non-academic needs such as housing, transportation, and childcare. In June 2026, Granite鈥疎dvance鈥痙onated $100,000 to the fund, bringing its total donations to $280,000. Over the past two years, Granite鈥疎dvance鈥�has also donated a total of $200,000 to student aid funds within the University System of New Hampshire (the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, and Keene State College).鈥�
Julie helped Kaitlyn overcome her鈥痠nitial鈥痳eluctance to apply for funds. 鈥淪he said, 鈥榊ou need鈥痶he help. You need to understand that鈥痠t鈥檚鈥痮kay to accept this type of鈥痟elp,鈥欌�濃�疜aitlyn said.鈥�
Kaitlyn applied and received enough funding to cover鈥痟alf鈥痟er children鈥檚 care for the semester.鈥疭he鈥檚鈥痭ow just a few months from graduation and excited to give back to her community.鈥疭he鈥檚鈥痑lso become a spokesperson for the Emergency Aid Fund, making sure other students know鈥痠t鈥檚鈥痑vailable. Knowing the value of resources like the food pantry and the Student Aid Fund, she plans to keep helping Julie after she graduates as well.鈥�
Kaitlyn is one of鈥�276鈥痵tudents supported by 黑料网鈥檚 donations to emergency aid funds to date. Many students say the funding has made a critical difference in their ability to stay in school.鈥�
Sena, a recent graduate of Manchester Community College, came to the United States from Turkey on an exchange visa in 2023 and ended up stuck here due to political developments in her country. After applying for asylum, she got a job at a coffee shop, where she sometimes faced intolerance as a Muslim woman. She also started taking classes at MCC, where she found a welcoming community. 鈥淚 realized, these people are so nice. It just feels like the neighborhood I grew up in,鈥� said Sena, who only uses her first name in everyday life.
Though she thrived academically and socially, Sena faced financial struggles as she tried to live here independently and pay for school herself (as an international student, she was not eligible for financial aid). Last year, she was evicted from her home. Like Kaitlyn, Sena was at first uncomfortable receiving support. 鈥淚 was thinking, 鈥楾here鈥檚 poorer people than me. Should I really be spending this?鈥欌�� she said.
Kristen Butterfield-Ferrell, Student Support Counselor at MCC, eventually persuaded Sena to apply for emergency funds, which helped her move out of her home and regroup for a few months. She also helped her find housing in the dorms at NHTI.
鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for the emergency funds, I would have had to stop going to college,鈥� said Sena, who is headed to Rutgers University to study prelaw in the fall. 鈥淭o some people, it might not sound like a lot of money. But to a person in that critical situation, it鈥檚 a lot of money. 鈥� I鈥檓 so grateful.鈥�