Sen. Edwards Ends College Scholarship Program Originally Proposed As a National Model of Higher Education

Published 05 August 08 01:50 PM | Student Loan Girl

After awarding more than 191 college scholarships over the past three years, a North Carolina scholarship program begun by former U.S. Sen. John Edwards is ending with the Class of 2009, according to an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, (“John Edwards Ends Scholarship Program He Called a National Model,” August 1,2008).

Established in the state’s Green County school system in 2005 using private donations, the College for Everyone Scholarship Program paid the tuition, fees, and book costs of eligible North Carolina students at any public college in the state for one year. In return, the student agreed to work at least 10 hours a week while enrolled in college, take college prep courses in high school, and stay out of trouble.

Originally proposed during Edwards’ 2004 democratic presidential- nominee bid, and set up after his return to North Carolina, the program was intended to improve college access for all students and to be a major component of his 2008 presidential campaign platform. The former senator had hoped the program would serve as a national model of higher education.

Some educators were surprised to learn the college initiative was ending, but Pamela Hampton-Garland, College for Everyone’s program director, said that the scholarship program had always been intended to be a three-year pilot effort. It will end with this year’s graduating class at Green Central High School.

Green County school district superintendent Patrick Miller, praised Edwards’ initiative, saying it “certainly was an accelerant” in helping his school system increase the number of students who are college-bound. The district serves a population that falls below state averages in both income and education.

When the program was initiated in June of 2005, the percentage of graduating seniors who applied to at least one college was at 74 percent. With the help of Edwards’ program, this spring, 94 percent of the program’s final graduating class applied to at least one college.