PROMISE SCHOLARSHIPS RECEIVE CAPS IN STATE SENATE

(04/03/2009)
Senators are proposing to West Virginia high schoolers bound for college that Promise Scholarships will put up at least $4,750 toward tuition.

All but four institutions — West Virginia University, Marshall University, Fairmont State University and Shepherd University, are covered by the new cap.

To make sure there is sufficient cash to guarantee that minimum, the bill takes another $2 million from video poker proceeds, moving the total to $29 million.

By 2011, the merit-based scholarship fund will have some $46,200,000, according to Senate Education Chairman Robert Plymale, D-Wayne.

WVU and Marshall have received the lion's share of Promise students —4,200 in Morgantown and 1,600 in Huntington.

Those schools will likely award grants to make up the difference.

About 8,800 scholarships have been awarded since it was started under former Gov. Bob Wise.