New scholarship bridges NCTC engineering students to UNT

GAINESVILLE, Texas — A new scholarship from North Central Texas College alumnus Troy Wolf is creating a direct pipeline for local students to move from NCTC's Industrial Technology programs into the University of North Texas engineering program through the Red River Promise initiative. Wolf has expanded his donation to the Red River Promise Scholarship Program at NCTC and endowed a complementary scholarship at UNT specifically for Red River Promise engineering students, "further strengthening the pathway from community college to university and into high-demand engineering careers," the college announced. The Troy Wolf Red River Promise Engineering Scholarship targets students who graduate from high schools in Cooke, Montague, or Young counties and participate in the Red River Promise program. Eligible majors include Industrial Technology, Computer Engineering, and related engineering disciplines. Recipients must maintain compliance with all NCTC Red River Promise criteria through graduation before transitioning to UNT with Wolf's complementary scholarship support. The Red River Promise program already covers tuition and fees for eligible students at NCTC, removing the cost barrier for community college. Wolf's scholarship adds an engineering-specific layer and extends financial support through the four-year degree, addressing a common dropout point when community college students transfer. Engineering roles are among the fastest-growing and highest-paying career paths in the North Texas economy. By creating a funded pathway from rural Cooke County high schools through NCTC to UNT, the scholarship aims to keep local talent connected to the region. Students interested in the Red River Promise Program can visit nctc.edu/promise or contact Debbie Sharp at dsharp@nctc.edu for more information.