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LCSC receives $1 million for scholarships
Lewis-Clark State College received a $1 million grant from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation to use for scholarships to help Idaho residents earn a four-year degree, starting with the 2010 spring semester, it was announced on Monday.
The grant is part of the Foundation’s $20 million Go On initiative, which aims to create “greater awareness and engagement in addressing Idaho’s post-secondary success rate and increase opportunities for Idaho students,” according to the Foundation.
The Foundation’s goal with the scholarships is to improve college opportunities and increase college participation and completion. Idaho ranks 43rd in the nation for students who go on to complete a college degree.
“This is wonderful news,” LCSC President Dene K. Thomas said. “This grant will have a powerful impact on students, the regional and state economies, and the future of Idaho.”
LCSC officials have been working with the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation for the past six months, discussing the college’s role in teacher education and with non-traditional students. The grant will help the college attract students in a variety of high-need areas, including first-generation and non-traditional students.
Thomas said the Foundation’s goal of helping more Idaho residents earn degrees follows the college’s 10-year plan of continued growth. LCSC set a record enrollment this fall with 4,200 students, which is the fifth straight semester LCSC has set an enrollment record. The strong growth continues a trend under Thomas. The college’s enrollment was 2,702 for the 2000 Fall Semester when Thomas became president. During her tenure, LCSC has grown 1,498 students, a 55 percent increase. Most of this increase is attributed to more Idaho students choosing LCSC.
The grant LCSC received is restricted to Idaho students and can be used anytime from the start of the spring semester in January to the Fall semester in 2016. The scholarship awards must be committed in full by Jan. 31, 2011. All the money must be used for scholarships and not any costs associated with the scholarships. Also, when the funds are committed, the scholarship should automatically renew until the recipient obtains a degree as long as criteria is being met. The criteria regarding scholarship forfeits and time limitations to obtain a degree will be within LCSC’s discretion.
To be eligible for a scholarship, the grant requires students to meet one of the following five criteria:
1) 1st generation: High school seniors must be the first generation of their family to attend college and have a financial need.
2) Completion: This is need-based scholarship available to full- or part-time students who are re-entering college and are in pursuit of a degree.
3) Transfer: Any core-certified student from a community or two-year college who wants to continue their pursuit for a B.A. degree at LCSC.
4) Non-traditional: A full- or part-time student who has never attended college and is one or more years out of high school.
5) Know-How 2 Go: A merit based scholarship for high school seniors based on high overall student performance, including the successful completion of four math and four science courses in high school.
Once scholarship money is award, LCSC will be required to track and report retention rates of the recipients.
The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation is a private, Idaho-based family foundation, dedicated to making a measurable positive impact on improving education in Idaho.
For more information on the Go On initiative, visit www.jkaf.org
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