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Gov. Markell seeks expansion of state-sponsored scholarships in weekly message

Delaware Public Media
/
Delaware Public Media

Delaware Governor Jack Markell and a group of state lawmakers introduced legislation this week to allow part-time college students to access state-sponsored college grants.

 

In his weekly message, the governor touted the success of the state’s SEED and Inspire scholarship.

But Markell says many prospective students don’t qualify for the SEED scholarships because they care for children or work part-time to support their family.

 

“No one should be denied a successful future because of circumstances beyond their control. I’m proud to join the original founder of SEED – Senator Harris McDowell – to propose legislation that expands the program for those who must attend part-time or take a semester off.”

 

You currently have to be a full-time student to be eligible for a SEED Grant.

The governor says the grant programs have provided 20,000 high school graduates with two years of free college tuition over the past decade.  

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Full text of Gov. Markell's weekly message:

More than ever, access to good jobs and a rewarding career requires education and training beyond a high school diploma. We have no higher priority than to ensure that we give all Delawareans affordable opportunities to gain the right skills for today’s economy. 

When we give that chance to our hardworking and determined workforce the impact is clear. You can see the results in the 50 young Delawareans who just completed intensive training in health care and customer service through our partnership with the McKinsey Social Initiative. The graduates told us that prior to joining the programs, they were unemployed or underemployed, felt frustrated and stressed, and saw no way to jumpstart their careers. Now they have job opportunities that they could not have previously imagined in fields like nursing and hospitality. We must continue to grow that initiative. 

While that program is free for students, we know the cost of advanced education is daunting for many. For the past decade, our SEED and Inspire scholarships have opened the door for nearly 20,000 high school graduates to receive two years of free college tuition. But some who need help the most can’t access these scholarships because they can’t attend school full-time or they need to interrupt their studies to care for young children or earn money to support their families.  No one should be denied a successful future because of circumstances beyond their control. I’m proud to join the original founder of SEED – Senator Harris McDowell – to propose legislation that expands the program for those who must attend part-time or take a semester off. 

By building on these efforts, we’ll continue to remove unnecessary obstacles to success and create opportunity for all Delawareans to reach their potential, while building a stronger workforce to grow our economy. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.

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