September 2, 2026

North Carolina’s Next NC Scholarship helps cover college costs for thousands of students each year, opening the door to a degree without the weight of tuition debt. The program provides financial aid to North Carolinians, fully covering tuition and fees at any of the state’s 58 community colleges. This year, business administration student Cristal Maldonado Peralta is one of the Forsyth Tech students benefiting from the scholarship — and her story is the second installment in our series spotlighting Next NC Scholarship recipients.

Cristal chose Forsyth Tech’s business administration program with a specific goal in mind: gaining the real-world experience she needs to help her father grow his business. That personal stake shapes how she sees her coursework — less like a requirement to check off, more like preparation for something that truly matters to her and her family.

Getting to Forsyth Tech started with research. Cristal had heard good things about the college, including its wide range of course offerings and its strong track record of helping students transfer to four-year universities. Her own research confirmed it: this was the right fit — and the Next NC Scholarship has helped make that path possible.

For Cristal, the scholarship’s biggest benefit is not just financial. It is peace of mind. Without the constant worry over tuition costs weighing on her every semester, she has been able to stop juggling a job alongside a full course load, and instead focus fully on her education and long-term goals.

Students and families interested in learning more about the Next NC Scholarship can visit College for North Carolina (CFNC), the state’s official resource for college planning and financial aid in North Carolina, or check with the Forsyth Tech’s financial aid office (Room 2561 in the Robert L. Strickland building, Phone: 336.734.7235). Interested in Forsyth Tech’s Business Administration program? Learn more here!