Monday, November 19, 2007
Governor Culver Congratulates Recipients Of The All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship
Governor Calls on Legislature to Increase Funding for the Scholarship
(Des Moines) Today, Governor Chet Culver called on the Iowa Legislature to provide new funding for the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship during the 2008 Legislative Session. Joined by more than 30 recipients of the scholarship, the Governor congratulated the 179 recipients of the scholarship, but pointed to the more than 1,000 students who were denied based on a lack of funding for the innovative program.
“As a former teacher, I strongly believe education is one of the most important investments a family – or state government - can make,” said the Governor. “However, I also know the hardship that college costs can cause a student and a family. That is why when I sat down to write my 2007 budget, I included unprecedented funding for higher education, including $14 million for our community colleges, historic investment in our regents institutions, and the creation of the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship, a first-of-its-kind program designed to help students in need receive the education they deserve.”
The Scholarship is a needs-based scholarship for Iowa students attending Regents institutions, community colleges, or private colleges. A signature proposal of the Governor’s 2007 Legislative Agenda, he signed it into law in May. Since that time, more than 1,200 students applied for the program; of which only 179 were able to receive funding to help pay for their college education.
“Only 15 percent of those who applied for the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship were granted awards. There is an overwhelming demand for this program, and I am committed to fully funding this scholarship so all Iowa students have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential,” said Governor Culver. “Now is the time to encourage public investment in our students, and that is why I look forward to working with the legislature to fund this important program. It is good for our families; it’s good for our economy; and it is good for Iowa.”
ALL IOWA OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP BY THE NUMBERS:
- 2.5 GPA required;
- 1,222 Iowa students applied for the scholarship;
- 179 Iowa students received the scholarship;
- The average award is $5,275.