Caucus Press Release: Speaker Proposes Enhancements to Scholarship Programs
Dec 14, 2006
Speaker Harrell at the press conference
Office of the Speaker
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Proposed enhancements to scholarship programs
LIFE and Palmetto Fellows Scholarships to further aid for math, science and engineering students
COLUMBIA -- South Carolina Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell along with several other members of the House, members of the higher education community from all over the State and members of the business community, announced proposed legislation for new enhancements to our state's LIFE and Palmetto Fellows scholarships.
Students who qualify for the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows scholarship, and who are studying math, science or engineering will receive an additional $2,500 per year (total $7,500) for LIFE and an additional $3,300 per year (total $10,000) for Palmetto Fellows starting in their sophomore year.
"I am pleased to announce this scholarship enhancement and the opportunities it will create," Speaker Harrell said. "We need our brightest math, science and engineering students to stay in South Carolina and be the drivers of our knowledge based economy. This improvement in our college scholarships is intended to do just that."
South Carolina lags behind other Southern states in the production of science and math Bachelor's degrees. The percentage increase in these graduates over a 10-year period shows South Carolina at 28 percent but Georgia at 46 percent, North Carolina at 37 percent and Florida at 44 percent.
University of South Carolina President Andrew A. Sorensen said, "Enhancing the Life and Palmetto Fellows scholarships will provide even greater opportunities for the state's colleges to be able to keep our brightest students here in South Carolina. We find the greatest competition for the best students comes with those in rigorous programs such as in the math and science fields.
"This move would be most helpful to our universities, our state, and for the families paying for college educations. I commend Speaker Harrell for his vision and leadership in advocating a strengthening of these scholarship programs."
Only students in declared science and math majors will be eligible for this. Those disciplines include, at least: computer and information science; engineering; biological and biomedical Sciences; math and statistics; physical science; science technologies; health professional and related clinical science.
Clemson University President James Barker said, "The LIFE and Palmetto Fellows scholarship programs have helped to reverse the brain drain of the 1990's and keep more of the best and brightest students in our state.
"This proposal would strengthen those programs to more effectively encourage students to pursue careers in the sciences, math, engineering and technology, which are the foundation for a knowledge-based economy.
Since these programs are so closely aligned with Clemson's core mission, we are pleased to see that Speaker Harrell recognizes the central role of science and engineering education to our state's future."
The increased funding for the scholarships will come from general appropriations, not lottery funds. The fiscal impact of this bill will be about $16 million. There are prerequisites included in the bill students must fulfill during their freshmen year to be eligible to receive the enhanced scholarship.
It is important to note that there will be no changes made to the way other students have been receiving LIFE and Palmetto Fellows Scholarships, only increased funding for science, math and engineering students past their freshman year.
Contact: Greg Foster
(803) 734-3125
fosterg@scstatehouse.net
-30-
|
