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February 7, 2007

Calhoun Announces Call for Scholarship Applications

Calhoun Community College and the Calhoun Foundation are now accepting applications for scholarship awards for the 2007-2008 academic year. These scholarships are competitively awarded based on criteria such as academic success, demonstrated leadership, and community service. According to scholarship manager and Foundation Executive Director Terri Bryson, there are several categories of awards available.

Scholarships To Recruit Specific Majors
Calhoun offers a variety of program-specific scholarships designed to recruit students into high-demand fields such as the Performing Arts, Nursing, Math and Process Technology.

Valedictorian & Salutatorian Awards
The college recently announced that all 2007 valedictorians and salutatorians living in Madison, Morgan, and Limestone counties, and attending the Lawrence County high schools in the Calhoun service area, are eligible for automatic full-tuition academic scholarships. To qualify for this award, students must provide documentation demonstrating that they are 1st or 2nd in their graduating class.

High Score Awards
For the first time, Calhoun will also offer automatic scholarship awards to any 2007 graduating high school student scoring 26 or higher on the ACT. 

Principal’s Choice Award
Calhoun is also giving each high school principal in the college’s service area the opportunity to select one student from his or her school to recommend for a partial scholarship award. It’s called the Principal’s Choice Award and designed to ensure that the principal and guidance counselors at each school have a tool to use in rewarding talent, determination, or circumstances they find uniquely worthy of special recognition. Students must meet Calhoun’s scholarship eligibility requirements and apply for acceptance to the college. Other criteria may be established at the discretion of each school.

Overcoming Adversity
Additionally, the Calhoun Foundation has a small number of scholarships available for students who have demonstrated the ability to overcome significant obstacles or adversity through courage and perseverance. Eligible students must meet institutional admission requirements and submit supporting evidence documenting their unique circumstances.

Dr. Marilyn Beck, president of the Calhoun is working hard to create more new scholarship opportunities for the college, noting, “It is important to keep quality students in our community. They are our future. We cannot afford to let capable students slip away under-educated, or for stellar to get recruited into other regions.”

Dr. Beck notes that scholarship money goes further at Calhoun because the college offers the same freshman and sophomore instruction as any state university for about one-third of the cost. She’s proud of the fact that students have more degree options at Calhoun than are found at most other colleges: 59 different degree programs and 50 certificate programs. “Low costs and high quality means that no matter what a student wants to study, Calhoun is the best place to start,” said Beck.

Enrollment at Calhoun now exceeds 8,500--making Calhoun the largest community college in the state. Mrs. Bryson also noted that it is the #1 College Choice for students throughout the region: 53% of Limestone; 46% of Morgan; 34% of Madison; 30% of Lawrence county students choose Calhoun over any other college or university (according to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education).

“We’re proud of our track record in funding scholarships,” added Bryson. For example: for an unprecedented seventh time, a Calhoun Community College student has been recognized as one of the top two-year college students in the entire country. “Just this past fall, another scholarship recipient, Chris Reisz, landed a two-book contract with Simon and Schuster.” 

One Application For All Awards
For the first time in its awarding history, one application form will qualify a student for consideration of any and all Calhoun Scholarships. Apply online here. The deadline for applying is March 1, 2007. Note that all students, regardless of financial ability, must also fill out a Federal Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) application. There is an essay section that allows students to add details for any unique qualifying information such valedictorian status, or stories of unique triumphs. For more details on these awards, call 306-2579.

Coverage of this release:

• Calhoun Announces Fall for Scholarship Applications, Speakin' Out News, Wednesday, February 14, 2007 issue, p. 3
• Calhoun calls for scholarship applications, The Decatur Daily, Friday, February 9, 2007 issue, p. B3
• Calhoun announces call for scholarship applications, The Athens News-Courier, Friday, February 9, 2007 issue, p. A4
• Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce website, Chamber Member News, www.hsvchamber.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Janet Kincherlow-Martin
Director of Public Relations
(256) 306-2561

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