For Immediate Release                                                                     Sept. 8, 2009

 

Contact:  Kelly Kirkpatrick, program director, kellyk@labette.edu, 620-820-1147

 

Grant-Aid to Students Receives Increase

 

Student Support Services of Labette Community College announces the receipt of $20,650 from the U.S. Department of Education to increase the amount of grant-aid the program awards to its participants each year. 

 

“Congress provided an increase in appropriations for all TRiO programs for this fiscal year,” Kelly Kirkpatrick, Student Support Services Director, said.   Approximately $19.1 million of this increase has been earmarked to be distributed directly to eligible participants in the 975 Student Support Services projects nation-wide.  “Prior years’ funding for grant-aid to students has been approximately $32,000,” Kirkpatrick said.  “This funding and a re-allocation of resources has increased our funding this year to $56,650.” 

 

Student Support Services participants who wish to apply for the grant aid must meet eligibility requirements including receiving a Pell grant, maintaining active program participation, and being in good academic standing.  Minimum awards are $488 per semester for full-time college students.  Kirkpatrick says she hopes to help as many as 75 students with awards ranging from $244 for part-time students to $1000 for students with greater financial need.

 

Student Support Services is a TRiO program funded by the US Department of Education to assist first-generation, income-eligible college students as they earn post-secondary school degrees. Student Support Services assists eligible students at LCC with college skills through free tutors, book loans, equipment loans, grant aid, intensive academic advising, and campus visits to area universities.   LCC’s Student Support Services program has been in operation since 1990 and serves 215 students annually.

 

 

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