PROMISE SCHOLARSHIPS IGNORE CRITERIA - Four Calhoun Students May Be Affected

(04/04/2002)

By Bob Weaver Denial of Promise scholarships in West Virginia to about 300 students who met the scholastic requirements, but failed to complete a financial form which was not part of the eligibility, has caused considerable stir around the state. Calhoun High School counselor Debbie Cunningham said four local students could be affected by the problem, although there is an inkling the problem could be solved by each student filing for an appeal process. The scholarships were to be awarded on scholastic accomplishments, a B average and scoring 21 on the ACT, but an additional financial eligibility form was made part of the application. Flyers for Promise scholarships stated the application could be completed in less than five minutes. The financial form requires one to two hours of work, provided financial information is readily available to the student. Cunningham said income and tax information is often difficult to obtain in families where parents are separated and divorced. While an appeal process has not been announced, students, parents and school counselors expressed concerns about additional labor and time involved to clear the problem. A school administrator told The Herald "Hopefully Governor Wise will step in and straighten out this mess, if that's possible."

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