Virginia Tech provides scholarship for MECC graduates

By Jenna Lazenby (published with permission of Virginia Tech)

BLACKSBURG, VA., August 25, 2006 -- The Office of University Scholarships and Financial Aid has launched the new "Virginia Tech-Virginia Community College System Lifeline Scholarship Program." Native Virginia Community College System (VCCS) students who complete their associates' degree are now eligible for one of six "Lifeline Scholarships," a new academic merit award given to graduates with the highest grade point average (GPA).

Recent projections from VCCS suggest that the Commonwealth of Virginia is beginning to see a period of increased demand for post high school educational opportunities and much of that demand will fall to Virginia Community College System. Currently, more than one-half of their associate degree graduates continue on to a four-year institution. The purpose of the Lifeline Scholarship is to provide those students wanting to continue their education with additional incentive to excel in their studies at both the community college and at Virginia Tech.

"As a land-grant institution committed to the Commonwealth, Virginia Tech has created the Lifeline Scholarship to help citizens continue their education and to furnish a 'lifeline' for future academic achievement," said Barry Simmons, director of University Scholarships and Financial Aid at Virginia Tech.

To further help meet Virginia's post high school educational needs, Virginia Tech will also increase transfer enrollment by nearly Virginia 1,000 students over the next six years as outlined in the restructuring plan.

For each academic year, the Lifeline Scholarship will award one full and five one-half annual tuition and fee scholarships. Beginning with the second year of the program, a total of 12 scholarships will be awarded - six for continuing recipients and six for new recipients named for that year.

Scholarships are for four semesters, and require that the recipient maintain a 3.6 cumulative grade point average. No application will be necessary; The VCCS student who meets all criteria along with the highest GPA will be awarded full tuition and fee scholarship and the next highest five students ranked will be awarded the one-half tuition and fee scholarships. Selected recipients will be notified of the award with their offer of admission by May 1 and will be required to have completed their associate degree prior to enrollment.

Scholarships will be awarded at the rate of one-half the annual amount divided equally between fall and spring semesters. The scholarship requires full time (12 semester hours) study each term, with the four term eligibility spanning four consecutive fall and spring semesters.

Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech is the most comprehensive university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is among the top research universities in the nation. Today, Virginia Tech's eight colleges are dedicated to quality, innovation, and results through teaching, research, and outreach activities. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg and other campus centers in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls more than 28,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 180 academic degree programs.

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