LeBron James Family Foundation, Stark State College to cover tuition for I Promise teens

Not every one of LeBron James' Nike shoes comes in a size 16.

And not every one of the high school seniors in his I Promise Network want to go to a four-year college.

While the lure of a free college education from either Kent State or the University of Akron is an offer that's hard to pass up, the reality for this select group of Akron kids is not all of them want to continue their studies for another four years after graduating from high school.

Some want to learn a trade or get a two-year associate degree or simply have a bit more time to sort out their futures.

To help meet these students where they are, the LeBron James Family Foundation along with Stark State College have publicly announced a new partnership that will allow them to attend the college's Akron or Stark County campuses for free.

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The foundation created by Akron native and NBA superstar LeBron James has forged similar partnerships for free tuition with Kent State and UA for teens in his program, but what makes this particular arrangement unique is the free tuition offer also applies to up to two parents, guardians or siblings in the same household.

“For the LeBron James Family Foundation, it’s always been about serving not just our students, but the entire family," said foundation executive director Michele Campbell. "Being able to extend this scholarship opportunity to our parents and guardians is an absolute game changer.”

LeBron's Foundation works with entire family

This all works into the foundation's mantra of "We are Family" and its holistic approach to not only work to ensure the individual student is on the path of a high school diploma and beyond, Campbell said, but the entire household is cared for, too — from the basics like food on the table to job security.

Campbell said there were already programs in place to help those family members who may not have graduated from high school, but this new endeavor is the next logical step to help them explore college or career options in a community college environment.

There are more than 140 seniors in the I Promise Network this year who are eligible to take advantage of the college options. They had a chance to tour Stark State's Akron campus with their families last week and learn about the free tuition scholarships.

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Stark State College President Para M. Jones said counselors will be made available to work one-on-one with each student and their family to map their way through the financial aid labyrinth.

After all other qualifying federal help like Pell Grants are tallied, Jones said, the college will make up the difference in last-chance scholarships so there will be no tuition cost to the I Promise participants seeking either degrees or certifications.

The average yearly tuition at Stark State College is about $6,000.

Jones said the college has been talking with the foundation for months to offer the last-dollar scholarships that will be covered by the college's foundation.

And those students who choose to attend Stark State, Jones said, will be assigned personal counselors who will work with them to ensure they remain on path to an associate's degree or ready to transfer to another university like Kent or UA for a four-year degree.

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Campbell said the goal is to help the students find the paths that are right for them, whether it is a four-year degree to be a registered nurse or earn a certificate to be a phlebotomist.

"We are always trying to find opportunities so we can meet the students where they are," she said.

Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: LeBron James Foundation, Stark State College to offer free tuition