To the editor:

In a society where the access to jobs has been limited, it is important to provide individuals with the skills and education to compete in our job market.

As an African-American student and senior at Virginia Commonwealth University, I have encountered the roadblocks in funding my education. Pell grants are an important stepping-stone, helping many students, especially minorities, to overcome those financial roadblocks and potential mountains of debt.

Access to higher education is a key that will open the doors of opportunity and jobs for this generation of college students and more to come.

Pell grants should be protected, because our future political leaders, teachers, business leaders, engineers and doctors need funding to advance their careers and give back to our community.

Katrina McNair

Suffolk