MCC receives $15,000 from the Ellucian Foundation to Support Students in Need
MARSHALLTOWN – Marshalltown Community College was selected as a 2025 Progress, Accomplishment, Thriving, Hope (PATH) Scholarship recipient through the Ellucian Foundation. The PATH Scholarship Program provides grants to higher education institutions worldwide to directly benefit students facing economic hardships and subsequent educational disruptions.
MCC received $15,000, which will be distributed to 23 students to help cover costs such as housing, tuition, utilities, transportation, and childcare. Students applied for funding through an application process, explaining their hardship and providing appropriate documentation, which was then used to determine the award amount. Each student received an amount from $250-$1,000, allowing the college to respond quickly when unexpected financial challenges threaten a student’s ability to remain enrolled. The PATH scholarship was administered through MCC’s financial aid office to provide targeted emergency support.
“In my role in the financial aid office over the years, I have seen firsthand how a relatively small financial disruption can threaten a student’s education,” commented MCC Associate Director of Financial Aid, Rachael Koehler. “This funding allowed our office to provide support to help them remain enrolled. When institutions invest in removing barriers, students can stay focused on their coursework, persist through challenges, and continue building a future through education.”
“Students across the globe are working hard to stay enrolled, but too many continue to face financial barriers that put their progress at risk,” said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. “Our 2025 Student Voice Report — which includes insights from ‘stop-outs,’ or learners who left college before completing a degree — found that 23% cannot afford upfront costs to return, and 15% are already too burdened by student debt. The Ellucian Foundation’s PATH Scholarship Program is helping institutions reduce these barriers so more students can continue their academic journey with confidence.”
The PATH Scholarship is provided by the Ellucian Foundation, established in 2020 by Ellucian, the leading technology solutions provider for higher education. To date, the PATH Scholarship program has provided more than $3.7 million in grants to 200+ institutions, supporting 3,700+ students.
“Institutions know better than anyone the real barriers their students face — and how even modest financial support can change the trajectory of a learner’s academic journey,” said Jen Welding, Executive Director of the Ellucian Foundation. “The PATH program is built on that principle. By putting flexible funding directly into the hands of colleges and universities, we enable them to rapidly assist students whose education might otherwise be interrupted.”
For more details, visit: https://stayonpath.org/.