Tarrant County College introduces new funding package for high school seniors

by PegNews wire

Thousands of Tarrant County high school seniors will have the opportunity to earn financial awards that will more than cover the cost of their tuition at Tarrant County College thanks to the College's new "Stars of Tomorrow" program.

TCC officials announced Tuesday that starting this fall eligible students can earn up to $4,000 for a maximum of six semesters as part of the program that is a "package" comprised of state and federal financial aid and income from the earnings of an endowment derived from the leasing of mineral rights and other private sources. If state and federal financial aid to be received by recipients is less than the amount of the award for a given semester, the balance will come from the endowment. Funds in excess of those needed for tuition will be applied to books and supplies.

Among the corporate contributors to the endowment are American Airlines, Cabela's, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Coca-Cola, Dale Operating Co., FACTS Management, Follett Higher Education Group, Nextwave Broadband and Thos. S. Byrne, Inc.

Awards are based on the number of hours in which students enroll each semester. Students taking six to eight semester hours are eligible for $400; nine to 11 semester hours, $600; and 12 hours or more, $800.

To be eligible, students must be residents of Tarrant County and be ranked in the top half of their class. Their families must be at or below the following income thresholds: For families of one, the family income must not exceed $18,000; a family of two, $47,000; a family of three, $52,000; a family of four, $57,000; a family of five, $62,000; a family of six, $67,000; a family of seven, $72,000; and a family of eight, $77,000.

Students must enroll at TCC for a minimum of at least six semester hours per long semester in the fall or spring and six semester hours in the summer term. The entire summer term counts as one semester.

"The most exciting thing about the program is that this is only the beginning," said TCC Chancellor Leonardo de la Garza. "I am confident that, in partnership with the TCC Foundation, we can 'grow' the endowment to the point where every graduating senior can participate."

High school graduates who do not meet eligibility criteria upon graduation still have an opportunity to participate. If they successfully complete a minimum of nine semester hours during the fall semester after their high school graduation, passing a least six semester hours with overall GPA of 2.25 or better, they may apply for an award the following spring.

For the award to continue, students must pass at least two-thirds of all semester hours attempted with an overall GPA of 2.25 over two consecutive semesters.

July 1 is the application deadline for the fall 2008 semester. The spring deadline is Nov. 1, and April 15 is the deadline for summer 2009.

The awards are available to graduates of public and private high schools in Tarrant County as well as those who have been home-schooled. Students must have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and attend an orientation and advisement session.

More information is available by calling (817) 515-TCCD (8223).

Source: TCCC