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Kodi Wallace, a student and employee at Seminole State College, faced a daunting financial obstacle in her final semester: She had exceeded the required credit hours for her program and was at risk of losing financial aid, leaving her with a $900 out-of-pocket expense for her classes.
Kodi found a solution through Destination Graduation, a program that aims to reduce barriers to postsecondary education and increase graduation rates for low-income students and student-veterans, groups at higher risk of dropping out for non-academic reasons.
Kodi first learned about the program at a campus tabling event.
“It was either stop going to college or come up with $900 in like, a couple weeks, and there was no way that’s going to happen, because I had to pay bills,” Kodi said. “Destination Graduation helping me out was a lifesaver.”
After contacting a Destination Graduation Case Manager, Kodi found immediate relief. “When I got in contact with Destination Graduation, they were super helpful throughout that process, because everything was put on hold,” she said. “My classes were put on hold. I couldn’t get my books because I needed my financial aid, and Destination Graduation was able to help me get my financial aid, so I was able to buy my books and register for my classes and everything.”
Even after her financial aid was reinstated, Kodi continued to work with her Case Manager, considering her a valuable resource as she planned her final semester.
She expressed gratitude for both Seminole State and the Destination Graduation program. “This is the best school that I’ve ever been to,” she said. “There is no other program like Destination Graduation that I’ve seen that can compare to this.”
Kodi has since graduated with her associate’s degree and is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology at Rollins College. Her experience highlights the importance of programs like Destination Graduation in helping at-risk students access resources and stay in school.