College now within reach for most Wyoming grads

Governor David Freudenthal
Opinion-Editorial that was submitted to newspapers statewide.
May 9, 2006

There is overwhelming evidence that higher education can be a ticket to a better job, better health and a better life.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average worker with a bachelor's degree will earn $51,206 annually, or nearly twice as much as someone with only a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, a person with a four-year degree will earn about $1 million more than a high school grad who didn't attend college.

A degree will qualify graduates for many jobs that would not otherwise be available to them, and job promotions and career advancement are easier with a college degree. But while it is generally recognized that a college education is invaluable, most also understand that such an education comes at a cost - one that is ever escalating. Struggling to make ends meet, many of Wyoming's parents have abandoned dreams of college for their children, conceding those costs as simply out of reach.

Frankly, I want Wyoming's families to rekindle those dreams, and the state stands ready to offer significant financial help for the class of '06 and for those graduating in the future. I want to compliment the Legislature for jump-starting the Hathaway Scholarship Program so that this year's senior class is eligible.

Because of efforts over the past two years by lawmakers, state officials, educators, business leaders and private citizens, the Hathaway Scholarship Program is now a reality. This new program, named for former Gov. Stan Hathaway and First Lady Bobby Hathaway because of their tireless efforts to promote education, will significantly reduce or even eliminate tuition costs at the University of Wyoming and the state's seven community colleges.

Employers in the state desperately need workers with vocational and technical skills, and the Hathaway Scholarship Program will aid not just students seeking traditional two- and four-year degrees but also those pursuing one-year, non-degree technical certificates at Wyoming's community colleges.

I'm both proud and pleased that Wyoming students now stand a much better chance of attending college in pursuit of either a degree or a technical certificate. The Hathaway plan will help our Wyoming high school grads better compete in a world in which more and more nations are challenging the United States' economic supremacy. As governor, I continually hear that Asia, Eastern Europe and other regions with high skills and low wages are siphoning American jobs and enhancing their own educational and occupational opportunities.

The message is simple: With a shrinking U.S. job market, education will be a determining factor in whether a person succeeds.

I urge current Wyoming high school seniors to do everything possible to keep their grades up during your final weeks of class. Better grades and higher college entrance exam scores could result in a significantly enhanced scholarship - an amount that would be multiplied by each semester of college attended.

A graduate with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and an ACT score of at least 17 or a WorkKeys score of 12 or higher could be eligible for a scholarship worth $800 per semester. A student with a GED score of at least 500 and who also meets the ACT or WorkKeys requirements could also earn a Hathaway Scholarship.

A GPA of 3.5 or better and a minimum ACT score of 25 can earn a student $1,600 per semester. Students who have successfully completed a home-based education program are also eligible, providing they meet minimum ACT scores.

A GPA of 3.5 or better and a minimum ACT score of 25 can earn a student $1,600 per semester. Students who have successfully completed a home-based education program are also eligible, providing they meet minimum ACT scores. I urge high school seniors to take the ACT exam. Interested students must then request that their high schools submit their most current transcripts, GPA and ACT or WorkKeys scores to the Wyoming college of their choice. Senior class counselors and college officials will have more details.

Those who initially qualify for a Hathaway scholarship based on merit may be eligible for extra funding for unmet financial needs.

Students, do yourselves a favor. Make college a reality. Check out the Hathaway Scholarship Program. It could be a vital step toward a brighter future.