Students urged to heed scholarship deadlines

Northern Marianas College students were advised yesterday to depart from typical habits of procrastination in the completion of their scholarship applications in efforts to foster a speedy and orderly financial aid system that has provided thousands of students opportunities to survive the high costs of American postsecondary education.

CNMI Scholarship Office Administrator Hilaria K. Santos and NMC Financial Aid Director Ramon Basa prodded students to be mindful of deadlines in the submission of scholarship requirements.

While Ms. Santos acknowledged the students’ seeming need to secure their tuition checks on time, the administrator stressed that the students’ full cooperation is also necessary to expedite the application process.

“Yes, we want to help you but it also depends on what you give us. It is important that you take deadlines seriously. I have noticed that students bring in their requirements at the last minute,” Ms. Santos told students during a scholarship programs briefing yesterday at the NMC student center.

More than half of full-time equivalents at CNMI’s lone college depend on scholarship grants and financial assistance.

Representatives from both scholarship granting entities also laid out to students various financial aid options that are available for local and mainland-based students.

The Scholarship Office offers three main financial assistance programs namely Full scholarships or Public Law 7-32, Teacher Scholarships or Public Law 10-58, and Educational Assistance Program.

Students are given up to four and a half years to obtain a bachelors degree while receiving financial aid under the three main scholarship awards.

The deadline of application for the Spring 2001 awards is on Dec. 15.

The NMC Financial Aid office director also informed students of a wide-range of federal assistance programs which are open to both full-time and part-time students.

Mr. Basa said that since the federal government has untied austerity measures from its agenda, American students stand to gain more this year in securing more college money.

The Financial Aid office disclosed that PELL grant awardees are expected to collect 6 percent more than last year’s maximum scholarship rate.

Full-time students under the PELL grant will be receiving a maximum $3,300 this year as compared to last year’s $3,125. PELL grants are anticipated to increase from year to year, according to Mr. Basa.

PELL grant awards processed by NMC have already amounted to $853,565 as of June 2000. Over the last two academic years, the college has served an estimated 4,743 scholars through its federal PELL and EAP grants alone.

Mr. Basa also cited the federal work study and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, among other federal assistance programs being processed by the college.

But as scholarship agreements go, students are expected to keep their part of the bargain by maintaining the standard of academic excellence.

Federal grant programs require its recipients to maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

Students are further encouraged to avail of the financial aids through the Internet, citing it as an easier and more convenient way to file applications.

To qualify for these grants, one must be admitted to NMC as a regular or part-time student for the purpose of earning a certificate or degree.

One must also have a verified financial need, a U.S. citizen, and must meet other requirements.