By Krystal Moralee

The costs of post-secondary education extend far beyond tuition, and even when scholarships and financial aid cover classes, additional expenses can sometimes determine whether a student completes the semester or quietly steps away with their goal unrealized.

The Community Foundation’s Life Needs Assistance program is designed to help remove those obstacles. The program provided $50,950 in grants in 2025 to help local students address tuition and non-tuition barriers that threaten their ability to stay enrolled.

“If we want students to reach degree or certification completion, we have to support them beyond tuition, fees, and books,” said Jessica Flann, the Foundation’s Program Officer for Post-Secondary Success. “When students know they won’t have to struggle alone, they can focus on learning, not surviving. Supporting their basic needs helps keep them on their educational path and strengthens our community with a more prepared workforce.”

Textbooks, lab supplies, and required online access codes can cost hundreds of dollars per semester, and students need them immediately. Technology is equally essential. A reliable laptop, stable internet access, and specialized software are often required to complete coursework, and if equipment fails, the result can be catastrophic.

Transportation costs add up as well, particularly in a largely rural region like St. Clair County. Gas, vehicle repairs, parking fees, or long commutes can become barriers to attendance. For many students, especially adult learners, the challenge is compounded by ongoing living expenses such as rent, utilities, groceries, childcare, and healthcare. Many also have to work less or leave jobs to attend classes, labs, or internships, resulting in lost income at the very moment expenses increase. It doesn’t take a streak of bad luck, either. For some students, one unexpected expense can make continuing with their education impossible.

Nyles Hughes of Yale has seen how quickly those gaps can appear. Currently studying Criminal Justice and Psychology at Michigan State University, Hughes has received assistance from the Foundation that allowed him to keep moving toward his goal.

“The Community Foundation has helped me more than I could have imagined,” Hughes said. “A renewing scholarship has kept college affordable and helped me avoid financial strain. When I hit a deer and had transportation issues, a Life Needs grant helped cover much of the repair cost so I could stay afloat.”

Isaiah Lopez of Port Huron described similar support.

“The Life Needs Assistance program truly changed my life,” he said. “Growing up in a five-person household with one working parent, college didn’t seem possible. The Foundation helped me navigate college and finances and even provided a computer and backpack so I could keep moving forward.”

For Joslyn Williams, the program’s impact came during a particularly demanding time in her education.

“The Community Foundation’s support was invaluable during my student teaching semester,” Williams said. “Through the Life Needs Assistance program, they helped reduce stress and strengthen my confidence during a very busy semester. Knowing that this foundation believes in my potential and supports me through my journey inspires me to grow both personally and professionally.”

These local stories illustrate how modest gaps can have critical consequences. Philanthropic support fills that gap. The Foundation’s Life Needs Assistance fund is designed to be flexible and responsive, providing timely help that traditional financial aid cannot. Donors who contribute to this effort recognize that access to college is only the first step. Completion is the goal.

When students earn certificates or degrees, the return extends far beyond the individual. Families gain greater financial stability, employers benefit from a more skilled workforce, and communities grow stronger overall when more residents have the opportunity to finish what they started.

Community members who want to ensure local students can continue their education – even when unexpected obstacles arise – can help by supporting the Life Needs Assistance fund by contacting Jessica Flann at jessica@stclairfoundation.org, and students who could use a hand can find an application here: https://stclairfoundation.org/scholarships/