Presidential hopeful, N.C. State alumnus and former senator John Edwards is piloting a program that could make going to college a reality for millions.

The purpose of the College for Everyone program is to make college more affordable for students who make the cut.

According to Associate Vice Provost and Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid Julie Rice-Mallette, College for Everyone is a program established in Greene County.

The program is funded through the Center for Promise and Opportunity Foundation, a non-profit organization established by Edwards, Mallette said.

“It was intended to be a program to encourage poor students from poor counties to go to college,” Mallette said. “It is a big, wide world in college and the goal is to get a foot in the door and ultimately to be successful.”

Last year, during the program’s first year at N.C. State, four students enrolled at N.C. State using aid from the program.

In 2007, nine students are currently enrolled with aid from College for Everyone, according to Mallette.

The program only provides aid for the first year of college. After the program funds the first year, the hope is that the college will replicate the funding for subsequent years.

“[This] was hard to do in the first year because financial aid may or may not have been a factor [in eligibility],” Mallette said.

Currently, only students from Greene County schools qualify to participate in the program.

“With the student’s permission, the department of scholarships and financial aid contacts the Center for Promise and Opportunity Foundation to discuss eligibility in the College for Everyone program,” Mallette said.

According to Pamela Hampton-Garland, director of College for Everyone, eligibility is based on residency in North Carolina, participation in the university prep course in high school, refraining from the illegal use of drugs, alcohol or any behavior that would result in a suspension of more than 180 days and acceptance into one of the 16 UNC system colleges or four community colleges in N.C.

“Students also must attend [college] the fall after graduation, they cannot postpone until spring, or a year later,” Hampton-Garland said.

According to Hampton-Garland, the program has proven to be effective.

In its first year, 86 participants attended post-secondary school with the program completely covering books and tuition, a total of approximately $300,000.

In 2007, 112 participants are attending college and receiving more than $600,000 in outside scholarships not funded through the College for Everyone program. College for Everyone covers any remaining tuition needed and money for books up to an amount of $1,000.

“Students are taking initiative because they realize their potential to qualify for aid,” Hampton-Garland said.