Group, Youth Bridge Award Money

NEW COLLABORATION AIMS TO INCREASE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AT NWACC

Becky Paneitz, president of NorthWest Arkansas Community College, hands the microphone to Scott Linebaugh, executive director of Youth Bridge, during an announcement Wednesday of $5,000 worth of scholarships from the NWACC President’s Circle to Youth Bridge at the Center For Nonprofits in Rogers.
Becky Paneitz, president of NorthWest Arkansas Community College, hands the microphone to Scott Linebaugh, executive director of Youth Bridge, during an announcement Wednesday of $5,000 worth of scholarships from the NWACC President’s Circle to Youth Bridge at the Center For Nonprofits in Rogers.

— A NorthWest Arkansas Community College classroom is a long way from the back of Kylia Rector’s car.

Rector was living in the back of her vehicle several years ago until she was referred to Youth Bridge, a local center for children and teens in need. Next week, she’ll enroll in college classes.

“It’s hard without stability to move forward with an education,” Rector said Wednesday. “For the first time, I can do that.”

Youth Bridge provided her with a safe place to stay, counseling and support. Most recently, that included naming her the first recipient of the President’s Circle Scholarship, a $5,000 award given to Youth Bridge clients.

The annual scholarship was established last month by members of the President’s Circle, a subgroup of the NorthWest Arkansas Community College Foundation.

“This will help ensure that some of our most vulnerable citizens have clear access to higher education,” said Becky Paneitz, president of the college. “Youth Bridge is all about strengthening lives, and it’s natural for us to collaborate with them to offer these kids a chance at higher education.”

Youth Bridge serves about 3,000 children and teens each year, and about 20 to 25 of them would be eligible for the scholarship each year based on age and educational attainment, said Nancy Hairston, director of development for Youth Bridge.

The money will be given annually to Youth Bridge, and the nonprofit group’s board of directors will decide how to award the money, Hairston said. The money could be given as a single scholarship or split into several smaller awards in coming years.

Any support that helps move troubled teens toward higher education is a blessing, said Scott Linebaugh, executive director of Youth Bridge.

“Education is a cornerstone of building a brighter future for these young people,” he said.

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