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Gov. Ruth Ann Minner spoke to 50 students Thursday, Feb 28, at Eagle’s Nest Christian Academy in Milton concerning the Student Excellence Equals Degree scholarship program.
The Student Excellence Equals Degree (SEED) program was enacted by the state Legislature in 2005. It provides full tuition payment for students who enroll in an associate degree program at Delaware Technical & Community College or the associate of arts program at the University of Delaware.
Minner addressed the students in the Eagle’s Nest auditorium, telling them the importance of doing well in high school as preparation for entry into college.
“Many of you have not even started to think about college,” said the governor to the seventh and eighth grade students. “This program is an opportunity for every one of you if you are willing to make it happen.”
The requirements for the SEED program include:
• Must be a graduate of a Delaware high school
• Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4-point scale or 80 percent on a 100-point scale
• Must be free of felony convictions
• Must enroll in either Delaware Tech or University of Delaware in the fall, immediately following high school graduation.
In 2006, more than 830 students were awarded a SEED scholarship. In 2007, 908 students joined the program.
“It has been amazing how many of the students who have taken this opportunity are now getting 3.0 and 3.5 grade point averages at Del Tech and the University of Delaware,” said the governor. “This is a great program and it has really made a difference not only to many students, but to our community as well.”
In the governor’s State of the State address Jan. 17, Minner emphasized the importance of allowing students who performed well in the SEED program to receive full tuition for all four years of undergraduate studies. The governor expects the Student Academic Reward (STAR) scholarship will soon be available to provide these students with an extra two years of tuition payment toward earning a bachelor’s degree.
A problem that Minner has worked on is making credits earned during the program transferable to other schools throughout the nation.
Currently, approximately 60 United States colleges accept credits earned at Del Tech and the University of Delaware associate programs.
The governor hopes that soon, more colleges will offer full transferability. To conclude the governor’s visit, a plaque was given to Eagle’s Nest to emphasize the state’s commitment to education and to encourage young students to prepare for college.
To learn more about the SEED scholarship program visit www.seedscholarship.delaware.gov. Eagle’s Nest Christian Academy is located at 26633 Zion Church Road in Milton.
Tom Walsh can be contacted at tomwalsh1@verizon.net
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