FRONTLINERS

Ginni Thomas has said she keeps her work separate from her husband’s. “Ginni Thomas, for years, has been an invaluable ally to our activist community when it comes to engaging on shared issues,” Vicenzi wrote. The Post viewed the public-facing description of the Facebook group last week. In the weeks after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Ginni Thomas apologized to those on the email list for a rift that developed among them after her pro-Trump advocacy and endorsement of his Jan. 6 rally. … When you leave here tonight, what are you prepared to do?”AdvertisementIt is not clear whether he was referring to Ginni Thomas.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Davenport University’s new Beyond Future for Frontliners Scholarship supports community college graduates seeking to further their education by providing up to $8,000 for up to four years. The Beyond Futures for Frontliners builds on the statewide Futures for Frontliners initiative, which offered essential workers during the pandemic the opportunity for tuition-free access to community colleges throughout Michigan. Much of the conversations stemmed from community partners in community colleges, who agreed that lessening the financial burden of in-demand students would help grow Michigan’s talent pool, he said. The Beyond Futures for Frontliners scholarship is the second offering targeting those affected by COVID-19. “We have had really great support for this, certainly from the community colleges, and certainly from the students themselves,” he said.

DEARBORN, MI — The University of Michigan-Dearborn has launched a program to help frontline workers earn a four-year degree. “Focus on the Finish” will expand on statewide scholarship programs for frontline workers — Futures for Frontliners and Michigan Reconnect — by providing financial assistance, academic support, flexible timelines and career development for students wanting a four-year degree, according to a university news release. UM-Dearborn’s program was developed by faculty and staff who work regularly with working adults and first-generation students on UM-Dearborn’s campus, the release states. Focus on the Finish is designed to be flexible, focused on each student’s goals and financially supportive for students, according to the release. READ MORE:More than 60,000 essential workers apply for Michigan free-college programThousands of essential workers to attend GRCC for free through Futures for Frontliners programEastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College partner in Futures for Frontliners program

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — Frontline workers who graduate from Washtenaw Community College can receive additional scholarship money from Eastern Michigan University to get a four-year degree. Since then, EMU has partnered with WCC, Jackson College, Macomb Community College and Oakland Community College as well, according to EMU’s admissions website. Eastern Michigan University, Henry Ford College partner to extend Futures for Frontliners programThe EMU Frontliners scholarship is only available for new transfer students, and cannot be combined with other transfer scholarships, according to the website. The deadline to apply for the Futures for Frontliners program is Dec. 31. READ MORE:2 ‘wellness days’ replacing one-week winter break for Eastern Michigan University studentsEastern Michigan University renames Quirk Building in honor of late faculty memberEastern Michigan University to begin winter 2021 semester online, president says

So far about 175 area frontliners have applied to study at MCCC next year through the program, according to according to Scott Behrens, MCCC’s new vice president of enrollment management and student success. Other interested students must apply by Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve, to be eligible for the program that pays for an associate’s degree or technical certificate. “Our frontline workers have been the backbone of our community as we deal with COVID-19,” Behrens said during MCCC’s recent State of the College address. “We moved 100% of our instruction to some sort of remote format,” said Grace Yackee, vice president of instruction. “Our hope is that we would return to campus, but it still may become remote.”

The deadline for front-line workers to apply for free community college is two weeks away. Futures for Frontliners, a program launched by the state earlier this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, gives front-line workers without a college education the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree or an industry-recognized certificate for free. Related: Michigan front-line workers eligible for tuition-free community college under state programGov. Gretchen Whitmer said the program seeks to pay back some of the support front-line workers have provided Michigan families during the pandemic. “That’s what the Futures for Frontliners program is all about.

Michigan has launched a program offering tuition-free college to an estimated 625,000 Michiganders who provided essential, frontline services during COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Safe orders between April and June 2020. To be eligible for the program, applicants must:Be a Michigan residentHave worked in an essential industry at least part-time for 11 of the 13 weeks between April 1 – June 30, 2020Have been required by their job to work outside the home at least some of the time between April 1 – June 30, 2020Not have previously earned an associate or bachelor’s degreeNot be in default on a Federal student loanComplete a Futures for Frontliners scholarship application by 11:59 p.m., Dec. 31, 2020Frontline workers are encouraged to visit www.michigan.gov/Frontliners to explore career opportunities, a list of local community colleges and get started on their application – even if they don’t already have a high school diploma. Related: Frontline Heroes stories

Michigan has launched a program offering tuition-free college to an estimated 625,000 Michiganders who provided essential, frontline services during COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Safe orders between April and June 2020. To be eligible for the program, applicants must:Be a Michigan residentHave worked in an essential industry at least part-time for 11 of the 13 weeks between April 1 June 30, 2020Have been required by their job to work outside the home at least some of the time between April 1 June 30, 2020Not have previously earned an associate or bachelors degreeNot be in default on a Federal student loanComplete a Futures for Frontliners scholarship application by 11:59 p.m., Dec. 31, 2020Frontline workers are encouraged to visit www.michigan.gov/Frontliners to explore career opportunities, a list of local community colleges and get started on their application even if they dont already have a high school diploma. Related: Frontline Heroes stories