1 of 4 seniors apply for scholarships, others miss interviews

April 23, 2009
Filed under Alumni, News

Ca’Shuanika Hoyle
Shan Garrett
Staff Writer

Only 130 out of 514 students applied this year for Alunni Scholarships, a dramatic drop from previous years, according to GO Center Counselor Lyndia Austin.

“This is one of the biggest classes we have had in the past 22 years and not nearly as many students applied as we expected,” Austin said.

Even though there was a low number of applicants, the number of interviews were even lower.

“Out of the low 130 applicants, we only had 101 interviews with students,” Austin said. “That leaves 29 students that did not bother to show up for an interview, or didn’t sign up for one.”

This interview gives the Alumni Association time to see what the applicants have ahead of them.

“They  usually have so many applicants that they have to find reasons to eliminate some,” Austin said. “But with a smaller group of applicants, they found it to be a little bit harder because all of them have so much to offer.”

Even though the amount of high school applicants is small, the previous students make up for the size.

“We have 62 college students who have applied again for the alumni scholarship, and we want to help them stay in college,” said Janice Ann Rowe of the LHS Alumni Association.

Rowe also said that the number of students coming back for scholarships is increasing.

“Each year we have at least a 10 percent increase in college students that continue to apply for the alumni scholarship,” Rowe said.

The Alumni Association is trying to give money to the students that do not receive money from the Pell Grant.

“The reason we ask for proof of EFC is because we want to try to help those students that are not receiving any government funding for college,” Rowe said.

The Alumni Association has been helping aspiring college students since 1986.

“We have given over $1,060,865 in over 22 years for a total of 1,105 scholarships,” Rowe said.