CCTC awarded $1.4 million federal grant to continue Student Support Services program
Sumter, SC (08/21/2025) — Central Carolina Technical College has received a federal grant in excess of $1 million to continue its TRIO Student Support Services program from 2025 to 2030. The program will serve 165 students from Clarendon, Lee, Kershaw and Sumter counties at a cost of $286,109 per year. This is the fifth time that CCTC has been approved to receive federal funding for the TRIO program.
TRIO is a federally funded post-secondary education program designed to provide academic assistance and support to Central Carolina Technical College students who meet the eligibility requirements. Federal guidelines direct the free program toward students who are from low-income families, first-generation college students and students with documented disabilities. Students must also demonstrate an academic need for the program.
"We are honored to continue providing this life-changing support to our students," says Patricia Magyar, director of TRIO Programs at Central Carolina Technical College. "This funding allows us to invest directly in the potential of our students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. The TRIO program doesn't just help students succeed in college; it helps them thrive."
TRIO gives students access to one-on-one tutoring, allows them to develop networking skills, helps with transfer assistance, provides opportunities to attend cultural events and offers counseling. Leadership opportunities include the TRIO Leadership and Professional Development Council, TRIO SSS Ambassadors Training, and conference participation. Initiatives through 2025 include increasing peer and alumni mentoring, additional college visits, relevant financial literacy and non-cognitive skills training and enhanced career planning.
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