By TRACY ESTES
News Editor
HAMILTON - High school students who might be interested in participating in the Dual Enrollment program being offered by the Marion County School System and Bevill State Community College might be eligible for scholarships to cover at least a part of the related tuition and fees.
Special attention is being drawn to the program considering the fact February is Career Tech Awareness Month in Alabama.
The Governor’s Office of Workforce Development is providing Bevill State with scholarship funds for career technical dual enrollment and early college enrollment program students. These funds will be used beginning in the fall. Students may use these funds if dually enrolled in welding, machine tool, automotive, auto body, drafting and industrial maintenance programs.
“We are excited for Bevill State to be able to offer scholarship assistance to students who have an interest in these programs,” said Sherry Fleming, who serves as interim associate dean for career tech. Fleming works from the Hamilton campus.
These funds are being provided from the remaining balance of a grant secured by the college last fall. The total earmark was in excess of $59,700. Some of the monies were used to assist with students in Fall 2008 and this current spring semester. Fleming said only $15,000 remains in the scholarship assistance fund and must be used to assist students throughout the Bevill system.
Dual enrollment scholarships are available to students who are in Grades 10-12 and have a B average. Eligible students must also meet Bevill State admission requirements while receiving final approval from their respective principal, guidance counselor and superintendent.
Participating students will perform all classwork on campus at the college while receiving high school credit for the respective college course work.
A second program eligible for scholarship assistance is the Early College Enrollment Program (ECEP). To participate in this program, a student must be either a high school junior or senior while maintaining a grade-point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students must also pass all areas of the high school exit exam prior to their senior year. Compass testing must also place the student in English 101 or Math 100.
Those participating must also maintain a 2.0 average while enrolled in the program. Students who complete the program will receive a 50 percent tuition reduction for one semester of college coursework in their particular program of study within one year of high school graduation. Like dual enrollment, the student must meet college admission requirements while receiving permission from the high school principal, counselor and superintendent.
Application for scholarship funding would include completion of a Bevill State admission form, scholarship application and a resume. The resume should include information concerning all academic achievement, community service and financial need.
The deadline application has been set for Friday, March 20. The application forms will soon be made available to students through their respective high school counselor’s office.
Asked the level of interest Bevill State officials anticipate for the scholarship program, Fleming said, “Interest has been strong. Interest in career tech training has been solid here. And let me stress, we are not trying to compete with local vocational schools at the high school level. We are simply interested in assisting with programs the local technology centers might not offer or where there is an overflow of students and our assisting a few seniors at our campus might assist with the overcrowding issue.” Tuition is $72 per credit hour with minor related fees usually added to the total cost. Fleming said one three-hour tech course at Bevill State would cost $285 for tuition and fees.
