“This continued investment in Danville Community College’s Southern Piedmont Educational Opportunity Center is an investment in the people and communities of our region,” said Dr. Cornelius Johnson, President of Danville Community College. “For more than two decades, this program has helped individuals overcome barriers, navigate higher education, and connect with opportunities that can change the trajectory of their lives and their families. We are grateful for the continued federal support that will allow DCC to expand this important work and reach even more residents across Southside Virginia.”
The new award marks the sixth EOC grant awarded to Danville Community College since the program was initially funded in 2003, continuing the College’s longstanding commitment to helping individuals overcome educational, financial, and informational barriers to postsecondary education.
“Programs like the Southern Piedmont Educational Opportunity Center are critical because access to education begins well before a student enters a classroom,” said Dr. DeAndre Howard, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services at DCC. “Our team works directly with individuals to help remove the practical barriers that can stand between someone and their next opportunity. This five-year extension allows us to continue that work while expanding our reach and helping more people throughout our region see a clear and achievable path forward.”
Under the new grant, DCC’s TRIO SP-EOC will increase its annual participant benchmark from 1,000 to 1,070 individuals. At least two-thirds of participants served will meet federal criteria as both potential first-generation college students and income eligible.
“This award represents much more than continued federal funding. It represents continued opportunity for the individuals and families we serve throughout our region,” said Sharon Harris, TRIO EOC Project Director. “Since 2003, the Southern Piedmont Educational Opportunity Center has helped people see that college, training, and a better career are within their reach. For someone who has never navigated higher education before, applying to college, understanding financial aid, choosing the right program, or returning to school after years can be overwhelming. Increasing our annual target to serve 1,070 participants gives us an opportunity to reach even more residents and connect them with the education and credentials needed to pursue their goals and meet the workforce needs of our communities.”
The successful award is also a professional milestone for Harris. It is the third successful EOC grant proposal written under her leadership as Project Director, continuing the program’s record of federal funding and service to the region. Harris credits Education Specialists Doreen Coleman and Camille Younger for their expertise, commitment, and intentional approach to meeting participants where they are and helping them pursue their education, training, and career goals.
Danville Community College’s Southern Piedmont Educational Opportunity Center provides free college-access and educational support services to eligible participants throughout Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry, and Patrick counties and the cities of Danville and Martinsville.
Services include assistance with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), college admissions applications, financial aid and scholarship information, career and educational planning, financial and economic literacy, secondary school reentry and high school equivalency options, and identifying postsecondary education, training, and credential opportunities.
Through individualized assistance, group workshops, outreach events, and partnerships with educational institutions and community organizations, SP-EOC helps participants navigate the path from educational aspirations to enrollment, training, credentials, and career opportunities. Staff work with individuals at various stages of their educational journeys, including high school seniors, adults entering college for the first time, individuals returning to education after an absence, and those seeking new educational or workforce pathways.
“Receiving a sixth SP-EOC award speaks to the strength, sustainability, and need for this college-access program and to the partnerships that make our work possible,” Harris said. “Our success is shared with the high schools, colleges, community organizations, workforce partners, and other agencies that help us identify and serve individuals who can benefit from these opportunities. Most importantly, it belongs to the thousands of participants who have trusted SP-EOC to help them take their next educational step.”
With the new five-year award, Danville Community College’s TRIO SP-EOC will continue building pathways to college enrollment, financial aid, career preparation, workforce training, and industry-recognized credentials while expanding its capacity to serve residents throughout Southside Virginia.
For more information about the TRIO Office at DCC, visit: danville.edu/trio.
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