Bay Commitment Scholarship Program Expands County Wide

 Bay City, MI - Bay Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce the expansion of the Bay Commitment Scholarship Program to all public high schools in Bay County beginning

October 1, 2009.  The schools include Bangor Township John Glenn, Bay City Central High School, Western High School, and Wenona Center, Essexville Garber High School, Pinconning High School, and Bay Arenac Community High School. 

The Foundation conducted a two year pilot test to investigate the long term feasibility and funding required for an educational promise program to support Bay County first-generation students seeking a college education.  The pilot was completed in June 2009.  As a result, eligibility requirements have been expanded to provide an opportunity for more Bay County public high school seniors, graduating in spring 2010, to apply for a $2000 Bay Commitment Scholarship.  The new eligibility requirements include a student must:

1.   be a first-generation student (neither parent nor legal guardian has obtained a bachelors degree)

2. have been a resident of Bay County for 6 years

3. have attended a Bay County public high school/s for 4 years

4. submit a scholarship application and essay to Bay Area Community Foundation by March 1, 2010

5. meet all high school graduation requirements and receive a diploma from a Bay County public high school by June 2010

6. must attend either Delta College or Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) as a full-time student (minimum 12 credit hours) beginning in the fall 2010 semester.

 A significant amount was learned during the two year pilot program conducted in collaboration with the Bay City Public School District.  It was determined there are four key components required for successfully working with first-generation students and their families.  They are:

·     A College Preparation Services Office (CPSO) within each public school district to assist first-generation students and their families understand what is required to attend college.

·     A working relationship with Delta College and SVSU to assist first-generation students and their families transition to post secondary education.

·     Ongoing collaboration with Delta and SVSU to provide extra focus and support to first-generation students once on campus to ensure a high graduation success rate.

·    Motivation to obtain a post secondary education locally. Over sixty percent (60%) of Delta College graduates remain in the area and over forty-five (45%) of SVSU graduates remain in the region.

Bay Area Community Foundation awarded over $382,000 in Bay Commitment Scholarships during the two year pilot program. The 2010 goal is to award 100 $2000 scholarships.  The number of scholarships awarded per public school district is based on the 2010 graduating senior student count as of September 30, 2009.  Scholarship awards will be announced in April 2010 and presented at an awards ceremony to be held on May 19, 2010.

      If for any reason a school district does not have the number of qualified first-generation applicants as Bay Commitment Scholarships allocated to the district, those scholarships will be assigned to other school districts based on the student count formula.  All 100 scholarships will be awarded in 2010.