People across eastern Kentucky whose college dreams have been deferred are getting a second chance at completing their educations, thanks to a new Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) initiative called “Finish Up For Free.”

Finish Up For Free — funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — has helped pay the cost of tuition, books, and fees for eastern Kentuckians who need less than 18 credit hours to complete an associate’s degree.

One of these people is Kizzie Halbert of McDowell, who is finishing an Associate of Arts degree at Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) and working toward a career in accounting, with help from Finish Up For Free.

As a child, Kizzie did well in school despite facing more than her share of challenges. She was born with hydrocephalus, a condition that causes a buildup of fluid on the brain and required several childhood operations to correct.

“I spent a lot of time in the hospital,” Kizzie said.

But she refused to let her illness hold her back. She developed a love of math and did well enough in high school to earn a Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES). KEES is a Kentucky Lottery-funded college grant program for Kentucky students who show academic achievement.

Kizzie decided to study accounting, which seemed to be a natural fit for her and offered the potential to be self-employed someday.

“I would like to start my own business. I would like to be independent,” she said.

Kizzie, now 23, entered college at BSCTC immediately after high school and earned an associate’s degree in applied science. However, she knew that she would need further education to work in her chosen field, so she began to lay the groundwork for a bachelor’s degree by working toward an associate of arts degree — then her KEES money ran out.

Kizzie wound up working in the deli at a local grocery store to support herself. She was disappointed to see her dream of working for herself deferred for financial reasons. Then, after a year out of school, she got a letter telling her that Finish Up For Free could help her get the credits she needed to finish her degree—at no cost to her.

She was elated.

“My mom and dad said ‘You should do it!’” she said with a smile.

Following the instructions in the letter, Kizzie went to the Big Sandy Area Community Action Program’s (BSACAP) Prestonsburg office and met with Brian Kidd, a Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Global Career Development Facilitator. BSACAP provides Finish Up For Free and other WIA services in Floyd, Magoffin, Johnson, Martin and Pike counties under contract with EKCEP.

Brian arranged for Kizzie get the help she needed to pay for her tuition, books, even transportation and meals.

Kizzie said going back to school while working is tough, but it would be much tougher without Finish Up For Free. 

“I’m grateful for this program,” Kizzie said. “It has helped me tremendously.”

Kidd said Kizzie has done well with the program, which is tailor-made for motivated people who are interested in expanding their career opportunities.

“We like to help people try to better themselves,” Kidd said.

EKCEP’s Finish Up For Free initiative is helping more than 150 other students like Kizzie finish their college educations. For further information about EKCEP and its programs, visit www.ekcep.org.

For more information on Workforce Investment Act services available in Floyd County, contact Brian Kidd at 606-886-2948.