Granite Edvance awards $30,000 in scholarships to community college and trade-school students

 Concord, NH – Granite Edvance, a NH nonprofit that helps students plan and pay for college and career goals, has awarded $30,000 in scholarships to 21 two-year and trade-school students for the spring semester. 

“We’re honored to support our community college and trade-school students as they reach for their goals,” said Granite Edvance President and CEO Christiana Thornton.  “In conversations with our partners around the state, we’ve learned that these scholarships can make a difference in helping a student take that first step toward furthering their education or staying enrolled. The scholarships also show our students that we believe in them and their future contributions to their communities and our workforce.” 

Scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 were awarded to NH residents studying at two-year colleges and Title IV-eligible trade schools. Awardees come from a variety of ages and backgrounds and are pursuing a wide range of professional goals. 

“Because of your generosity, I am able to continue my journey toward becoming a healthcare professional who leads with empathy, advocacy, and purpose,” said Simran Dahal, who is pursuing an associate degree in nursing at Rivier University. “This support means more than financial assistance; it is a reminder that someone believes in my dream to give back and serve others with compassion. Thank you for investing in my future and in the lives I hope to touch.” 

Scholarships for two-year and trade-school students are now being offered three times a year, to better support students in pursuing education goals throughout the year. The four-year scholarship program will continue to be offered on an annual basis. 

The next scholarship window, for two-year and trade-school students enrolling in the summer term, opens on Monday, January 19. The fall term scholarship for both two-year and four-year students will open in mid-February. For more information, visit https://graniteedvance.org/cover-the-cost/search-for-scholarships/granite-edvance-scholarships/. 

Granite Edvance has provided scholarships to hundreds of New Hampshire college students since the program began in 2005. Over the last five years, the organization has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships.  

Here are the Two-Year and Trade-School 2026 Spring Term Scholarship recipients:  

 

Almelyn	Barnett	Raymond	Manchester Community College
Tyler	Byrne	Deerfield	NHTI – Concord’s Community College
Angela	Coletti	Manchester	Manchester Community College
Jillian	Courchesne	Goffstown	Manchester Community College
Simran	Dahal	New Boston	Rivier University
Jaime	Dohaney	Hudson	Nashua Community College
Kristen	Florence	Raymond	Manchester Community College
Shawna	Gile	Merrimack	St Joseph School of Nursing
Rosaines	Guerrero	Hudson	Nashua Community College
Samantha	Heinrich	Londonderry	University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies
Elsa	Johnson	Derry	Manchester Community College
Madison	Lee	Hooksett	Manchester Community College
Michelle	Mendoza	Amherst	River Valley Community College
Sarah	Newell	Marlborough	River Valley Community College
Awdri	Pena	Manchester	Nashua Community College
Dorothy	Reynolds	Exeter	Northern Essex Community College
Brendan	Saladino	Gorham	Southern Maine Community College
Karen	Schultz	Goffstown	Harmony Health Care Institute
Elizabeth	Turgeon	Rochester	Great Bay Community College
Jennifer	Willette	Derry	Nashua Community college
Casadie	Zeletsky	Salem	Manchester Community College