Arkansas House of Representatives

 

Latest Bill Actions

• SB109
  Feb 8th  - Prefiled
• SB106
  Feb 8th  - Prefiled
• HB1105
  Feb 8th  - Prefiled
• HB1071
  Feb 8th  - Prefiled
• SB21
  Feb 7th  - Prefiled

see all bills >

 

Homepage > News > Students Begin Receiving Scholarships

For months now, we have heard about the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and increased funding it will provide for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship. Well, after all of the time and work spent establishing eligibility requirements and award amounts, then completing the application process, those scholarships are starting to make it into the hands of Arkansas students!

The Arkansas Department of Higher Education says it has notified more than 10,000 high school seniors that they will receive the enhanced Academic Challenge Scholarship in the fall. The notices have been sent via email. Students can also check their online account set up through the YOUniversal Scholarship Application on the Department of Higher Education website to find out whether they have received the award. More than 53,000 students submitted applications. Of those, 16,815 were high school seniors. A spokesperson for the Department of Higher Education says those applications have been processed first and that more awards may still be awarded to seniors, as the department continues to receive school transcripts, making more applications complete.

More than half of the applications - 36,829- are from non traditional students and students known as "current achievers," or qualifying students already in college. The law limits the awards for these students at $41.5 million for current achievers and $12 million for non-traditional students. Qualifying applicants will be awarded based on a formula that is weighted 70% on the student's level of progress toward his or her degree, 20% on GPA, and 10% on whether the student is ins a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) field, or in an area of workforce shortage. The department expects to finish processing applications for non-traditional students and current achievers by the end of June, and those students who applied by the June 1 deadline have until June 15 to turn in any additional transcripts or documentation.

"This is a very busy time but also an exciting time as we are seeing a huge surge in the number of people who are interested in furthering their education,” said Dr. Jim Purcell, director of the Department of Higher Education. It's truly an exciting time for all of us - those who worked hard to see the enhanced scholarship come to fruition, and foremost, students for whom college is now within closer reach.