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Published Tuesday, February 14, 2012 in Local

No HOPE changes expected this fall

By Rebecca Leftwich

The Newnan Times-Herald

Change is afoot in Georgia's HOPE Scholarship and other programs students use to finance college, but anyone headed to the hallowed halls of higher learning this fall has more pressing matters to consider.

"As of right now, we don't know about any changes in HOPE for the fall," said Jennifer Maxwell of the University of West Georgia's enrollment services center. "If you are entering a Georgia college this fall, the best thing to do is to go ahead and get your financial aid plan in place."

The deadline for most college-specific scholarships has passed, but Maxwell said there's still time for students to seek out community awards.

"Community scholarship application deadlines tend to be a little later, usually around the beginning of March," she said.

For students seeking information on community scholarships, Northgate High School guidance counselor Michelle Hutcheson recommends an immediate visit to a high school career center.

"The high school career center is where seniors would find applications for scholarships from local organizations," Hutcheson said. "Most of those scholarships have a deadline on or around March 1."

Local scholarships often seek specific applicants, especially those strong in community-driven activities, according to Hutcheson.

"Many scholarships that are available to students are given by organizations that focus on community service," she said. "Those groups want to recognize the students who have volunteered their time helping others. In addition to striving toward a high GPA, students need to have community service hours on their resume as well."

Currently, HOPE requires recipients to have carried a 3.0 GPA -- a hefty increase from the program's original 2.5 GPA requirement -- out of their high school core curriculum classes. For Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility, students must have a 3.7 GPA and have at least a 1200 SAT score or a 26 ACT score.

Book and fee allowances and remedial classes are no longer covered by HOPE, and eligible students can receive the scholarship only until they have attempted 127 semester hours. Students who lose regular HOPE or Miller Scholarship funds have one chance to regain them.

Beginning with the high school graduating class of 2015, potential HOPE and Miller recipients will face more rigorous standards in math, science and foreign language requirements, but dual-enrollment course credits will count toward the rigor requirements.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal recently announced the launch of a new needs-based college scholarship called REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen), which will be funded entirely by private donations. REACH Scholars will be selected in middle school and will sign a contract promising to maintain good grades; stay away from drugs, crime and other bad behavior; and meet with a volunteer mentor until high school graduation.

Parents or guardians of REACH Scholars also must sign a contract stating they will support their students' education. Students who successfully complete the requirements will receive a renewable $2,500 tuition scholarship to be used at any HOPE-eligible institution.

Students entering their high school sophomore, junior or senior years in the fall shouldn't wait too long to start looking around. Earlier rather than later is always better for the college-bound, according to Hutcheson.

"It is critical for students to plan early for college," she said.

Hutcheson and Maxwell recommended the following websites:

• www.gacollege411.org

• www.scholarships.com

• www.fastweb.com

• www.schoolsoup.com

• www.fafsa.com

In addition, students should visit the websites of colleges and universities in which they are interested for information on school-specific grants, work study programs and scholarships.

"Students can explore careers, colleges and scholarships and learn how to plan for college expenses," Hutcheson said. "In addition to academic scholarships, the individual colleges provide many scholarships to students."

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