2008 Woodie Awards
Students affected awaiting funding
Andrea Bartlow
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: News
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The Bright Flight scholarship is one of many scholarships and state-based grants university students rely on to cover school and living expenses.
This semester, however, students have experienced a serious delay in the arrival of their funds from the state agencies that handle scholarships such as Bright Flight.
Bright Flight is a merit-based scholarship distributed to graduating high school students who score 30 or higher on the ACT or who are in the top three percent of SAT testers in Missouri.
Bright Flight scholarship beneficiaries receive $10,000 for five years or $2,000 per semester.
Laura Hardin, an English major and a junior at Central, has received Bright Flight funding since her first semester in 2003.
She did not have to go through a process of asking the state for the scholarship since the Bright Flight agency contacted her after she took the ACT in high school.
"I scored a 30 on my ACT when I was in high school and later got a letter in the mail that told me I was eligible for Bright Flight," Hardin said.
"I had to fill out some paperwork, but the money has been coming in every semester since then."
Hardin said she regularly receives her Bright Flight funds with the rest of her scholarships during the first two weeks of the semester.
The money is accredited to her Central account, and once her classes and other school-based expenses are covered, the office of Student Accounts cuts her a check for the remaining amount.
"The money for this semester was credited to my account, but only for school expenses, which have already been covered," Hardin said.
"I could go and buy a $1,000 worth of merchandise from the [University Store], but I can't use the money to pay for rent or buy food. I live off-campus, and I need that money to cover my living expenses."
Student Accounts, financial aid and the Undergraduate Scholarship Program at Central have not been able to produce a reason for the delay of funds for Bright Flight recipients. Lucy Vickers, office professional for financial aid, said the delay comes not from Central, but from the state.
This semester, however, students have experienced a serious delay in the arrival of their funds from the state agencies that handle scholarships such as Bright Flight.
Bright Flight is a merit-based scholarship distributed to graduating high school students who score 30 or higher on the ACT or who are in the top three percent of SAT testers in Missouri.
Bright Flight scholarship beneficiaries receive $10,000 for five years or $2,000 per semester.
Laura Hardin, an English major and a junior at Central, has received Bright Flight funding since her first semester in 2003.
She did not have to go through a process of asking the state for the scholarship since the Bright Flight agency contacted her after she took the ACT in high school.
"I scored a 30 on my ACT when I was in high school and later got a letter in the mail that told me I was eligible for Bright Flight," Hardin said.
"I had to fill out some paperwork, but the money has been coming in every semester since then."
Hardin said she regularly receives her Bright Flight funds with the rest of her scholarships during the first two weeks of the semester.
The money is accredited to her Central account, and once her classes and other school-based expenses are covered, the office of Student Accounts cuts her a check for the remaining amount.
"The money for this semester was credited to my account, but only for school expenses, which have already been covered," Hardin said.
"I could go and buy a $1,000 worth of merchandise from the [University Store], but I can't use the money to pay for rent or buy food. I live off-campus, and I need that money to cover my living expenses."
Student Accounts, financial aid and the Undergraduate Scholarship Program at Central have not been able to produce a reason for the delay of funds for Bright Flight recipients. Lucy Vickers, office professional for financial aid, said the delay comes not from Central, but from the state.