ROANOKE – Thanks to the private-public community partnership that funds the Community College Access Program (CCAP), 484 students are attending Virginia Western Community College tuition-free this fall.
Since 2008, public localities and private donors have united in support of CCAP, which is the largest “free college” program at a Virginia community college. CCAP provides up to two years of tuition for recent high school graduates who meet program requirements, as funding allows. More than 4,800 Roanoke Valley students have participated in the program as of fall 2025.
“We are so grateful to all of the CCAP donors – municipal, corporate and private – for helping thousands of students further their education at Virginia Western over the past 17 years,” said Russell Ellett, Chair of the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation, a nonprofit affiliated with Virginia Western Community College that administers the program.
Roanoke region high school seniors may apply for the fall 2026 CCAP scholarship now through Feb. 1, 2026, at virginiawestern.edu/ccap. Applicants must also apply to Virginia Western and submit the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) by the same date.
Students who are ineligible to complete the FAFSA can complete the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application as an alternative, also by the Feb. 1 deadline. The VASA provides state aid only and is for Virginians who have certain nonimmigrant visas, are undocumented, have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or are otherwise ineligible to file a FAFSA.
Those interested in learning more about CCAP are invited to attend a Zoom information session on Jan. 15, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. To register, visit virginiawestern.edu/CCAP.
To stay up-to-date on important CCAP application deadlines, financial aid workshops and more, sign up for text alerts by texting “2026 ccap” to 877-235-2279. (Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help; message and data rates apply.)
Recipients of the CCAP scholarship for 2025-26 are:
CRAIG COUNTY
First-year students:
Justin Boitnotte, Hayden Bradley, Emma Cole, Maggie Mays, Jamie Ratliff, Talon Ritter and Erin Snider
Second-year students:
Matthew Lucas, Seth Parsons and Hayden Reynolds
Third-year students:
Ashton Early
For more information about CCAP, see virginiawestern.edu/ccap or contact Annie Fentress, CCAP Coordinator, at (540) 857-6371 or afentress@virginiawestern.edu
-The New Castle Record