|
Schools receive info
on new SD Opportunity Scholarships; 04 grads may apply
Information on the
South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship reached SD high schools this week,
according to the SD Board of Regents, administrators of the program. The SD
Opportunity Scholarship is a new program that awards a $5,000 scholarship over
four years to qualifying high school graduates who complete the Regents
Scholar curriculum and maintain certain academic standards.
Eligibility
is based on an application submitted by the student, along with copies of the
high school transcript and documentation of a minimum ACT (or SAT) score.
Lawmakers
specified that scholarship funds would be distributed for the “use of college
freshmen that are newly enrolled in the academic year 2004-2005,” so
scholarship eligibility will begin with the high school graduating class of
2004. Schools are urged to get the information into the hands of graduating
seniors who may qualify ASAP.
Eligibility requirements
The
eligibility requirements are:
-
Be a resident of
South Dakota at time of high
school graduation.
-
Have an ACT composite score of 24 or higher. If using
a SAT score, the sum of the verbal and mathematics scores on the SAT must be
at least 1070.
-
Complete high school course requirements commonly
known as the Regents Scholar curriculum with no final grade below a C (2.0
on a 4.0 scale) and a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
(grade of B):
-
4 units of English (courses
with major emphasis upon grammar, composition, or literary analysis; one
year of debate instruction may be included to meet this requirement)
-
3 units of social studies
(i.e. history, economics, sociology, geography, government--including U.S.
and South Dakota, American problems, etc.)
-
4 units of algebra or
higher mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or other advanced
mathematics, including accelerated or honors mathematics); algebra
provided at the 8th grade shall be accepted. NOT INCLUDED are arithmetic,
business, consumer, or general mathematics or other similar courses.
-
4 units of science,
including 3 units of approved laboratory science (courses in biology,
chemistry, or physics in which at least one regular laboratory period is
scheduled each week). Accelerated or honors science (biology, physics, or
chemistry) provided in the 8th grade shall be accepted. Qualifying
physical science or earth science courses (with lab) shall be decided on a
case-by-case basis.
-
˝ unit of computer science
(students will have basic keyboarding skills and have had experience in
using computer word processing, database, and spreadsheet packages and in
using the Internet or other wide area networks).
-
˝ unit of fine arts (in
art, theatre, or music -- appreciation, analysis, or performance.) Changes
to 1 unit of fine arts, effective Fall 2005.
-
2 units of the same modern
or classical language (includes American Sign Language).
-
Attend a university, college, or technical school
accredited by the North Central Association (NCA) and that provides
instruction from a campus located in
South Dakota.
-
Enter into the program within 5 years of high school
graduation, or within 1 year of the student’s release from active duty
military service (if that release is within 5 years of the student’s high
school graduation). Eligibility is lost if the student attends full time at
an institution of higher education located outside
South Dakota.
-
May participate in South Dakota Opportunity
Scholarship Program for the equivalent of four academic years (eight
consecutive spring and fall terms), or until attaining a baccalaureate or
technical degree, whichever comes first.
Scholarship Amounts
The South
Dakota Opportunity Scholarship provides $5,000 over four years to a qualifying
student who attends an eligible higher education institution in South Dakota:
$1,000 – 1st
year of attendance
$1,000 – 2nd year of attendance
$1,000 – 3rd year of attendance
$2,000 – 4th year of attendance
One-half of
the annual scholarship award will be paid at the beginning of the fall
semester and the other half paid at the beginning of the spring semester.
Continuing
Eligibility Requirements for Scholarship Recipients While in College
-
Maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a
4.0 scale, calculated after the second semester and every semester
thereafter.
-
Complete consecutive spring and fall terms in order
to remain eligible for continuation of scholarship from term to term.
-
Complete 15 credit hours of instruction per semester.
(Remedial courses do NOT count toward the 15-hour requirement).
-
Sit for and pass all sections of a college
proficiency examination at the end of the sophomore year.
|
|
