Gov. Matt Blunt today lauded new scholarship opportunities available to Missouri State University (MSU) students through Missouri State Promise, a program that complements the governor’s action to more than double needs based funding for scholarships.
“Education is my highest priority, and I am committed to ensuring that our students receive a world class education,” Blunt said. “MSU’s Promise program complements our action this year to increase needs based scholarship funding from $27.5 million to $72.5 million. We must continue to do all we can to expand opportunities for students interested in pursuing a higher education degree and continue to invest in Missouri’s future by investing in our students.”
Missouri State Promise provides scholarships for students who are at or below the national poverty level. The scholarship, introduced this fall, helps students cover the difference between their tuition and any scholarships or grants they have. Today BancorpSouth announced a gift of an estimated $150,000 over the next ten years for the Missouri State Promise Scholarship.
Earlier this year the governor signed an historic higher education plan for Missouri students and families. The legislation created the Access Missouri Scholarship that more than doubles funding for needs based scholarships, increasing the funding available statewide from $27.5 million to $72.5 million and making them more available to thousands of Missouri families. Missouri State University estimates they will go from 595 students receiving aid under the current program to up to 2,600 students eligible.
The legislation also enacts the governor’s landmark Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative. The governor’s Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative is a partnership between the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) and the state that sells loans held by students in other states generating $335 million to strengthen Missouri’s colleges and universities. The initiative will provide much needed funding for state-of-the-art learning and research centers to prepare students to compete in today’s global economy where higher quality learning in areas such as math and science are crucial elements for students’ future success.
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