Tazewell County CONNECT

Tazewell County High School Class of 2025

Eligibility Conditions

1. Students must apply for admission to Southwest Virginia Community College and meet entrance requirements.
2. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in its entirety by June 2 and any verification requirements as communicated by the Financial Aid office.
3. Students must graduate from high school with a 2.5 GPA and maintain a 2.5 GPA to retain eligibility.
4. Funds are available for up to 4 continuous semesters following high school graduation, beginning no later than the fall term after high school graduation.
   • If a fall or spring term is skipped, this disqualifies you from the program.
   • Summer semesters are not eligible for this funding. Any summer enrollment would be at a cost to the student.
5. Students must be residents of Tazewell County since January 1st of their high school graduation year and have graduated from a school in Tazewell County.
6. Complete 8 hours of community service each term with a 501c3 organization or government entity. Community Service hours must be completed in Tazewell County during the same term as when county funding is applied. Students must turn in the Volunteer Hours form by the deadline (same date grades are posted), or they will be disqualified from the program. Form and volunteer locations are found at sw.edu/volunteer
7. The student’s total annual household income must be $120,000 or less (‡ may be waived).
8. ‡ Priority will be given to students whose immediate families work or volunteer for Tazewell County Fire Services. Students meeting this criteria will have the household income condition waived.
9. Students must complete the Tazewell County CONNECT application on this page by the deadline of June 13, 2025. It is recommended that you complete this regardless of what financial aid you think you will receive and the college you plan on attending. If not completed and your situation changes after the deadline, then you will not be eligible without an application on file.

Funding is limited and will be awarded to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis.

*Students who live outside of Tazewell County are NOT eligible for this program. Students graduating from a school outside of Tazewell County are NOT eligible. Funding is last-dollar and is only available for tuition. This means that if you qualify for other types of Financial Aid to cover your tuition, you will not receive TCC in addition to that (you will only receive one or the other). Funding and eligibility requirements are contingent upon an approved county budget set by the Board of Supervisors each year by July 1st. Course-specific fees are not covered under this funding.

**Students should complete the SWCC Scholarship Application at https://sw.edu/scholarship-portal/ by the deadline of April 7 to determine if they are eligible for additional funds to help with books, etc.

For more information regarding Tazewell County CONNECT, please contact the Southwest Financial Aid Office, at financialaid@sw.edu or 276-964-7724.

Tazewell County CONNECT Application

The application has closed.