|
County supervisors, CREATE ‘guarantee’ the future |
|
Thursday, 02 October 2008 |
|
By Jeannetta Edwards
Daily Times Leader
A project to guarantee two years of college education for the graduates of the Class of 2009 from any Clay County school was announced Wednesday morning in a brief ceremony at the Civic.
Backing the tuition guarantee program is the CREATE Foundation, who will provide $20,000 in a challenge grant from their Marchbanks Endowment Fund, with the Clay County Board of Supervisors agreeing to fund half of the remaining cost for graduates attending East Mississippi Community College.
“The program will continue as long as funding is available,” said Mike Clayborne, president of CREATE.
To apply for the tuition guarantee, students must submit an application with assistance from their guidance counselor, apply for all federal aid programs and scholarships and have a regular high school diploma, according to Clayborne
“The purpose of this program is to improve educational attainment,” said Clayborne. “This is really significant... very important to the future of Clay County.”
Rick Young, EMCC president, praised Clay County supervisors for being the first in the two-year school’s district to implement such a program.
“Your Board of Supervisors provide this opportunity for the sons and daughters of Clay County,” said Young, pointing out 80 percent of the jobs available now and in the future require education beyond high school.
“There was a time when our sons and daughters had to go out of Mississippi (for higher paying jobs,)” said Young, referring to Clay County as one of the college’s “strongest partners. “They (the Clay County supervisors) stepped up to the plate to make these opportunities available.”
Young also acknowledged CREATE’s “realization that education is the key to economic development, the pursuit of happiness and the American dream.”
Young called Robin McCormick, chairman of the Clay County CREATE Foundation, a “champion” for her dedication to the project.
“You have to have champions in anything you do,” said Young. “I want to recognize Robin McCormick. She’s been a champion and she continues to work hard on this.”
The project will also be underwritten by private investors, according to Lynn Horton, board president and District 1 Supervisor.
“We were keeping it quiet until everything was worked out,” said Horton Wednesday afternoon. He did not know what the county’s investment would be. “I can’t say right now what the county will invest. We have some private investors as well.”
The program will fill any “financial gaps after available federal, state, and private grants scholarship assistance have been exhausted,” with the requirement that the student complete 12 hours per semester and maintain a 2.0 grade point average. Summer classes are not covered by this program.
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 03 October 2008 )
|
