Alabama’s CollegeCounts Scholarship Program Accepting 2014 Applications
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) – Do you have a 12th grader planning to attend college in the fall? We want to make sure you know about a scholarship program offered by the State of Alabama.
The CollegeCounts Scholarship is in its second year and is run by the Alabama State Treasurer’s office. Last year, funds were awarded to 150 students from all of Alabama’s 67 counties. There were 1,025 completed/eligible applications submitted in all.
To apply, you must be an in-state student planning to attend a two or four-year Alabama college or university.
The one-time scholarship is based on several criteria that can be objectively measured, according to Chad Wright, Director of Alabama’s College Savings Program. These criteria include financial need, ACT score, high school GPA, work/activities, service and honors/awards.
An independent third party, International Scholarship and Tuition Services, administers the program and selects the award recipients. Wright said this is done to assure complete impartiality.
Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 and a 26 or below on the ACT (yes, that’s correct.) Chad Wright, Director of Alabama’s College Savings Program, explained further.
“The mission of the program is to provide funding assistance to Alabama high school students with demonstrated financial need to attend college within the state,” said Wright. “We’re looking for good students who wanted to go to college, but who may not have the means otherwise.”
The winning students will receive a one-time award of $4,000 if they plan to attend a four-year college, or $2,000 if they plan to attend a two-year school. The money will be split equally between the two semesters of the 2014-15 year – meaning the student would receive half at the beginning of the 2014 fall semester, and the other half at the beginning of the 2015 spring semester.
You can apply now through March 19, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Check for more details.