$750,000 Grant to Last Mile Expands Support for Students in Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee

Funding ensures more students complete tech and engineering degrees and launch high-impact careers

LAFAYETTE, Colo., July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Last Mile Education Fund is proud to announce an anonymous gift of $750,000 to expand impact across Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The grant provides a financial safety net for students from or studying in these states—ensuring financial hurdles do not impede degree completion and upward mobility, while meeting critical tech workforce demand.

This funding builds on Last Mile's regional impact: $670,000 awarded to 478 students across Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee since 2020.

"Thanks to Last Mile I could remain in roles like teaching instead of reverting back to the restaurant industry. With this autonomy I had my first paper published," said Ashlyn Campbell, Georgia State University BS in Computer Science and Sociology, now a PhD student at University of Michigan.

Over 700 late-stage tech students across the region are at risk of dropping out annually, an urgent loss of talent and economic momentum.

"We are deeply grateful for this generous investment in students across the South," said Ruthe Farmer, Founder and CEO of Last Mile Education Fund. "Too often, a small financial gap is all that stands between a student and graduation. This funding will ensure that more students in Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee can finish what they started and step into the future they've worked so hard to build."

Last Mile backs financially vulnerable tech and engineering students on the verge of graduation, stepping in when unexpected costs threaten their success. Guided by an abundance mindset, Last Mile champions their persistence and potential — recognizing these students as the nation's largest untapped pool of technical talent.

Since 2020, Last Mile has invested over $13 million in 10,500+ students, with a 74% graduation rate and strong tech workforce outcomes. This new funding will help reach even more students at the finish line—bridging financial gaps and expanding access where it's needed most.

Media Contact:
Ruthe Farmer, Founder & CEO
[email protected]

About Last Mile Education Fund
Last Mile is a national nonprofit providing timely financial support to financially vulnerable students in tech and engineering. By investing in students near the finish line, Last Mile helps unlock talent, close graduation gaps, and power economic mobility at scale. Learn more at www.lastmile-ed.org.

SOURCE Last Mile Education Fund