Scholarship funds intact despite budget cuts

The CNMI Scholarship Office said students under statutory scholarships will be given priority over recipients of grants in the event funds fall short.

So far, however, shuffling of funds has played out quite well for the scholarship office, and students have received their school money despite a 13.5 percent sweeping cuts in government budget.

For instance, the more than 400 off-island students who are recipients of the Educational Assistance Grant continue to receive the same level of benefits given them before the budget cuts.

“We were reasonable in helping the students,” Scholarship Director Hilaria K. Santos said.

Those who would be in the priority list are high school valedictorians, education students and graduate students enrolled at San Diego State University.

“Yes, we still have money left, but with the austerity program, that doesn’t mean that we still can get money,” Santos said.