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WHEELING – Three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded when West Virginia Northern Community College hosts four virtual open house events next week.

Free tuition opportunities for many WVNCC programs also will be among topics for discussion during breakout sessions at the open house.

Those interested in attending WVNCC this fall have the opportunity to participate in one of four virtual open houses that have been scheduled. During these sessions, they will find information about WVNCC programs, the admissions process, financial aid, student activities and more.

Anyone attending the virtual open houses will be eligible to win one of three $1,000 scholarships to WVNCC for the fall semester. Winners will be selected randomly from among those providing information at the open house.

The open houses are set for 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 28; noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29; 9-10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 30; and 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.

Anyone interested in attending the event can go to www.wvncc.edu and visit the Open House page to get the Zoom link.

Each session begins with a brief overview, then participants will move into virtual breakout rooms to gather information and ask faculty and staff questions. Specific break out rooms will be set up for discussion on financial aid opportunities, and each of the 70 different programs available at WVNCC.

“When they are done in one room, they can come back to the main room and request to go to another room,” said David Barnhardt, director of marketing and public relations at WVNCC. “All the departments will be represented, but it will all just be done virtually.”

WVNCC typically hosts on-campus, in-person open houses each spring and fall. But the spring open house this year was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, he said.

“Our campuses are closed, but we still are conducting business online,” Barnhardt said. “We wanted to offer something to students who need to decide the best route for them. We get calls every day, so we said let’s have a virtual open house.”

WVNCC classes are scheduled to start Aug. 24, and he said there are still opportunities for prospective students to apply and be accepted to attend classes.

Currently, WVNCC is planning to have in-person classes on campus, according to Barnhardt. Some classes will be hybrid classes — with both in class and online learning, while others are online offerings.

“We are set up and ready to go,” he said. “Now that we have the experience we gained in the spring, if we need to go completely online we can go completely online. We have contingency plans to cover anything that could happen.”

This year the West Virginia Legislature passed a bill that would provide free tuition for many students attending community colleges in the state.

Of the 70 programs offered at WVNCC, 30 qualify for the free tuition, according to Barnhardt.

Students receiving the state grant also must be a state resident for at least a year, and at least 18 years old without a prior college degree.

Those interested must fill out applications for federal assistance, submit to a drug test, and be willing to provide two hours of community service each semester.

Participating students must carry at least six hours of credit during the semester, and maintain a grade point average of at least 2.0.