Promise scholarship extended to October

COVID-19 brought a note to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission on Friday.

In response to the pandemic that has closed high schools and colleges across the state, the commission voted to extend qualifying for the PROMISE scholarship to October.

Top-achieving students who qualify for the merit-based offering can receive up to $4,750 a year to cover tuition and other costs.

Sarah Armstrong Tucker, the commission’s interim chancellor, said “top-achieving” is the phrase that pays.

In West Virginia, first-generation college students still flood onto campuses as freshmen.

Pandemic or no, Tucker said, high school seniors who have worked hard for PROMISE should still have every right to qualify.

“We want to make sure they’re able to pursue their dreams,” she said, “especially in the midst of this emergency.

“We hope this gives students and their families peace of mind as they continue planning their futures.”

And peace of mind, Eddie Campbell Jr., said, is still a big dividend unto itself.

Even with a stellar grade point average, the superintendent of schools for Monongalia County said.

“I think it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

“Any flexibility we can provide is a good thing. These kids are our high-fliers. They’re stressed out on a good day.”

That’s because, the superintendent said, they’re already looking to fall — when the leaves start turning on campuses that may not even be re-opened.

The commission, though, is banking on open doors and open campuses.

While ACT and SAT national testing was postponed earlier, the commission is hoping those exams will be re-established in time for students to qualify for PROMISE by the end of October.

In the meantime, the commission said Friday, qualifying test scores for the above remain the same.

That means a composite score of 22 for the ACT, with minimum scores of 20 in English, math and science.

The SAT will still require a total score of 1100, with minimum scores of 520 in math and 530 in evidence-based reading and writing.

Grade-point requirements and other service-based mandates for some grants remain suspended for students already receiving PROMISE.

To find out more, visit the commission online at www.wvhepc.edu. Information will be updated as it becomes available.

The state’s financial hotline is 888-825-5707.

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