SANFORD - Thirteen Central Carolina Community College students have been awarded scholarships through the Golden LEAF Scholarship program for the North Carolina Community College System.

The program, designed to help North Carolinians attend the state's community colleges, is funded through a $750,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation.

Curriculum students can receive scholarships up to $750 and continuing education occupational students can receive up to $250.

CCCC curriculum scholarship recipients, and their majors, are Heather Calderon, Paralegal Technology; Sandra Olmsted, Accounting; Pamalia Ennis, Human Services Technology; Kevin Olmsted, Business Management; Trellvon Burch, Human Resource Management; and Janice Bradley and Elma Matthews, Medical Office Administration; all of Harnett County.

CCCC continuing education scholarship recipients, and their courses of study, are Nelsena Farley, Sherri Guinn, and Kaitlyn Munch and Kristine Soto, Phlebotomy, all of Harnett County; and Dixie Diesfeld and Susan Robison, Nurse Aide, both of Lee County.

The scholarship can be used for tuition, books, fees, supplies, transportation and childcare related to attending classes during the 2013-14 academic year, as well as industry-recognized credential testing expenses that address skill gaps upon course completion.

"The Golden LEAF Foundation is proud to have awarded over 6,400 Golden LEAF Scholarships to help North Carolinians attend our state's community colleges," said Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF president. "Our hope is that these scholarships will help build the talent, knowledge and skills of our current and future workforce, especially in the rural areas of our state."

Scholarships for both continuing education occupational and curriculum students are available during the fall, spring and summer semesters. Eligible students must demonstrate financial need and reside in a county that is tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural. Harnett and Lee counties both meet the criteria.

For more information on Golden LEAF Scholarships, visit www.goldenleaf.org or call Central Carolina Community College's Financial Aid Office at 919-718-7380.

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to help transform North Carolina's economy. The foundation receives one-half of the state's funds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. It places special emphasis on assisting tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and/or rural communities across the state. The Golden LEAF Foundation works in partnership with governmental entities, educational institutions, economic development organizations and nonprofits to achieve its mission.