At Northeast Texas Community College, an innovative program is reshaping how rural students access and succeed in higher education—while offering a model that could be replicated nationwide.

The Work4College Program combines early college exposure, structured employment, and financial support into a single, integrated pathway. Students can begin participating as early as the summer after their sophomore year of high school, gaining meaningful work experience on campus while building a financial foundation for college.

Early giving is officially underway for East Texas Giving Day, and the Northeast Texas Community College Foundation is encouraging the community to support NTCC students ahead of the big day on April 28, 2026.

Audrey Ordoñez, a first-generation college student, graduated from Northeast Texas Community College in 2025 with an associate's degree in biology. She is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology at The University of Texas at Dallas and plans to continue there for a master's in molecular and cell biology. Her goal is to conduct hands-on research in a hospital or laboratory. 

The deadline to apply for NTCC Foundation scholarships for

Jerilyn Goolsby is in her sixteenth year with Mount Pleasant ISD and has served as a counselor at Mount Pleasant High School for the past nine years. She grew up in Talco, Texas, and graduated from Rivercrest High School in 1991. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from East Texas State University and later completed her Master of Education in School Counseling from Texas A&M–Commerce.

Hannah Jones, originally from Daingerfield, Texas, now lives in Colfax, Louisiana, with her husband and two children. She worked four years as an ICU nurse in Tyler and Longview before becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), a role she has held in Louisiana for 13 years.

The Northeast Texas Community College Foundation Board met Tuesday, Feb. 17, for its annual business meeting.

Board Chair Rick Nelson called the meeting to order, and NTCC President Dr. Kevin Rose provided a college update, highlighting continued growth and the Foundation’s vital role in expanding opportunities for students.

Scott Redfearn with the Mount Pleasant Community Fund recently presented a $5,000 check to the Northeast Texas Community College Foundation to directly support the NTCC Care Center. Redfearn (left) is pictured with Jessica Dorantes, Nita May and Zach Branham.

The gift will provide nutritious food and basic hygiene items for NTCC students who face food and/or financial insecurity. Care Center resources provide a lifeline to help students stay enrolled, maintain focus and continue working toward their degrees or workforce credentials.    

Northeast Texas Community College students graduating this spring and planning to transfer to a four-year university in the fall are encouraged to apply for the International Sulphur Transfer Scholarship.

NTCC Foundation scholarship applications are officially open for the 2026-2027 academic year. Anyone who plans to attend NTCC for the Fall 2026 semester should consider applying online at ntcc.edu/scholarships. Applications are due March 23rd.