Service area of the college, thanks to a new scholarship program announced today. SCCC President Brad Bennett and $480 Superintendent Todd Carter unveiled the “Saints Ahead Scholarship.” “In the past this was limited to technical-vocational training courses, which are covered by the state, or, for gen-ed classes, the ability of families to pay tuition fees privately. Creating access for all is a real game-changer.” COVID funding enabled $480 in tuition assistance for the spring and fall semesters in 2023.
The Saints Ahead Scholarship will pick up the torch, continuing tuition coverage for all Seward County high school students taking college courses while still in high school. The Saints Ahead Scholarship also provides assistance to high school students in six other Kansas counties served by SCCC, beginning in the 2023 fall semester. Those counties, Meade, Haskell, Morton, Stevens, Grant and Stanton, contain 11 high schools public.
“We are offering a flat rate of $50 per class for our area of awareness,” said SCCC President Bennett. “That goes for a three-credit course or a five-credit course—just $50. Our Seward County residents are already paying tuition to support SCCC; this is the logic for no line. We want to extend a similar opportunity to our entire service area.” high school students across the entire southwest quadrant of the state.
“Saints Ahead expands the opportunities,” Bennett said. “This scholarship applies to any undergraduate course offered at SCCC, whether it be campus-based, online, or a combination with our Blendflex program or the concurrent and double-credit tuition we offer at our Outreach schools.” SCCC’s requirements for enrollment are modest: High school students must have good academic standing, maintain a 2.5 grade point average (GPA), and work with their individual high school advisors to coordinate programming details .
Carter, who has seen his district grapple with the side effects of COVID and related workforce challenges, said the Saints Ahead scholarship is a positive development. “The Saints Ahead Scholarship will provide access to and opportunities for all students to build postsecondary experiences into their individual study plans,” Carter said. “Removing the cost barrier makes postsecondary certifications and degrees a very reality that students and families can plan for.The result is the motivation to take control of their future early and turn their plans into action.” Bennett said the SCCC board shares this desire.
“Our board is committed to piloting this Saints Ahead Scholarship for two academic years,” he said. “For a high schooler who’s a sophomore right now, that means they could potentially complete high school and an associate’s degree in the next couple of years, at almost no cost.” The data shows that high school students who earn 15 or more college credits before graduation are more likely to enroll and persist in college and go on to earn a degree, Bennett said. “SCCC wants to be the force for good that puts them on the path to success.”
For more information about the Saints Ahead Scholarship, contact SCCC Admissions at 620-417-1011. High school students and their parents should also consult their high school counselors about tuition plans.###
