ASU to offer new Arkansas Promise scholarship^TM, covering tuition and fees

Feb. 26, 2010 -- A new scholarship program, Arkansas Promise^TM, is now available for 2010 high school graduates who will be enrolling at Arkansas State University. The new scholarships are available to recipients of the Arkansas Academic Challenge/Lottery Scholarship. These combined scholarships are expected to cover the costs of tuition and fees for full-time students enrolled through the Jonesboro campus.

“When combined with the Arkansas Lottery Scholarship, the Arkansas Promise scholarship^TM at ASU-Jonesboro puts a college education well within financial reach of any high school graduate who has the academic ability,” commented Chancellor Robert L. Potts.  “By covering tuition and fees, these scholarships will allow students to devote full attention to their studies.”

Each applicant must be an Arkansas resident who has been admitted to Arkansas State University upon spring 2010 high school graduation with a minimum ACT score of 22 or minimum SAT score of 1030. The student must have maintained a seven-semester grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and have completed the 2010-11 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available at https://fafsa.ed.gov/. 

Applicants for the Arkansas Promise^TM must also be Arkansas Academic Challenge/Lottery Scholarship recipients. The application for the lottery scholarship can be found at http://www.adhe.edu.

Upon meeting the criteria, graduates in 2010 from accredited Arkansas high schools may apply for the award, which includes up to $1,500 per academic year for courses taken on the ASU-Jonesboro campus. The Arkansas Promise scholarship^TM does not combine with any other ASU institutional scholarship.

Additional selection standards utilized by the ASU Scholarship Committee include graduation ranking, leadership positions held during high school and within state organizations, high school awards, athletic accomplishments, music accomplishments, community service, and Boys State/Girls State.

“The recent economic conditions have been tough for many families in the state, but these scholarships will provide a new funding option for their child’s college education. Basically, this is the equivalent of free tuition and fees. We think it can be of enormous help to students seeking a higher education degree,” said Dr. Rick Stripling, vice chancellor for Student Affairs.

Application deadline is June 1, 2010, and the scholarship is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters or until the student’s first baccalaureate degree is received. Recipients of the Arkansas Promise scholarship^TM must successfully complete 15 class hours each fall and spring semester and maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade point average to be able to renew the scholarship.

The Arkansas Promise scholarship^TM is awarded competitively and is based on the availability of funding.

The constitutional amendment establishing a state lottery in Arkansas was passed in 2008 and stipulates that the proceeds be used for scholarships for students attending two- and four-year colleges. The legislature approved funding for students attending four-year universities at $5,000 per year. The governor signed today Act 294 authorizing the funding.

Additional Arkansas State University scholarship information is available at http://www.onehowlofanexperience.com.
 

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