Office of Speaker Dennis M. O’Brien

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

139 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        CONTACT:  Jeanne H. Schmedlen

                                                                                                                                   717-705-1894

 

Speaker of the House Dennis M. O’Brien Announces Availability of 2007 House Scholarship Applications

 

HARRISBURG, Feb. 2 – Speaker of the House Dennis M. O’Brien (R-Phila.) today announced that academic scholarship applications for 2007-2008 Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Scholarships are now available from each of the 203 state representatives and high school counselors across the state. 

 

“The statewide, bipartisan House Scholarship program is an opportunity to acknowledge and award students’ academic achievements and accomplishments, as well as assist our gifted and hard-working young people and their families in their dreams of affordable post-secondary or higher education,” said O’Brien. 

 

“Young people who value education and strive to fulfill their potential stand out.  This program is a way that we can reward exceptional student scholars and help them reach their education goals,” said O’Brien. “We are pleased with the high caliber of students who have been granted the scholarships for the past three years.”

 

This year’s scholarship application deadline is April 13.

 

Currently, 14 students are enrolled in the scholarship program in colleges and universities across the Commonwealth.  Four additional scholarship recipients will be announced in June, bringing the total of scholarships awarded up to 18.

 

Applicants will write essays based on the following statement: “Pennsylvania’s Capitol celebrated its 100th anniversary in October of 2006.  Discuss a remarkable event that occurred in the House of Representatives in that building between 1906 and 2006.”

 

Each scholarship grant, which can be renewed for each of the student’s four years of college, consists of the value of one semester of tuition at a State System of Higher Education school, which was $2,500 for academic year 2006-2007.  This year’s scholarship amount will be determined later this year.

 

The scholarships can be used to attend any public or private Pennsylvania postsecondary “eligible educational institution” as defined by Sec. 529 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).

 

Another benefit of this award is that students may be eligible to receive matching funds from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency’s (PHEAA) PATH Program.  The recipients’ names are automatically submitted to PHEAA and matching awards are granted based on the students’ remaining financial need.  Last year, PHEAA’s PATH program matched the House Scholarships in the amount of $10,200.

 

Additional tuition help also may be available from the SAGE Program if the students attend any of the 42 SAGE (Savings and Growth for Education) affiliated schools in Pennsylvania.

 

House scholarship applicants are scored and reviewed based on a personal essay,

demonstration of leadership qualities and commitment to community, academic

achievement, financial need and extra-curricular activities.

 

In addition, students must have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average and plan to attend a Pennsylvania college, university, or professional training school full-time.  To date, almost every student applicant was at the top of his or her graduating class.

 

The scholarship foundation and selection process is independently administered by the Foundation for Enhancing Communities (formerly the Greater Harrisburg Foundation), a non-profit organization designed to stimulate philanthropy and enhance the quality of life in the community through accumulating, managing, and disbursing

financial assets and by serving as a catalyst and neutral convener to meet a wide range of community needs.

 

Conceived in 2003, the House Scholarship Program uses no taxpayer funds, but rather is personally funded by former and current House Members as well as by funds raised at events during the year.

 

The House Scholarship Program currently has a balance of $596,046 invested in the Pennsylvania Tuition Account Program at the state Treasury Department.  By an actuary’s estimate, this endowment ensures that the program, with at least two new scholarships awarded annually, will continue into perpetuity. 

 

Criteria and other background information can be found at www.pahousescholarship.com or www.tfec.org.

 

An anonymous donor provided the program with an additional $5,000 for scholarships for the next three years.

 

“We are grateful for this donation, which enhances our efforts by adding two additional scholarships annually and underscores the integrity of our program,” said O’Brien.

 

#  #  #