The Maricopa Community College Foundation has been awarded a $500,000 two-year grant for scholarships for Black and Hispanic students.

The grant is part of the PepsiCo Foundation Community College Program, which aims to reduce barriers that students from these communities can face in pursuing higher education.

“Black and Hispanic students are facing an unprecedented educational crisis as enrollment rates continue to decline and dropout rates increase, often because of financial needs outside of tuition. Students need more than scholarships — they need support to stay in school, finish their degrees and access the job market,” said C.D. Glin, global head of Philanthropy, PepsiCo & vice president, the PepsiCo Foundation. 

The program’s scholarships are focused on Black and Hispanic students looking to get into fields such as marketing, cybersecurity and information technology, as well as community college graduates transitioning to four-year colleges.

Approximately 1,400 students nationwide will receive assistance with tuition and eligible living expenses such as childcare and transportation, and support from PepsiCo including career exploration, facility tours, job shadowing, and access to career preparation tools such as virtual workshops, resume writing and interview skills. 

"The timing of this grant is particularly critical for low-income Black and Hispanic students who have had to put off higher education during the pandemic," the Maricopa County Community College District said in a Wednesday statement announcing the grant.  

Online scholarship applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

EDITOR'S NOTE: KJZZ is licensed to the Maricopa County Community College District.