Hundreds of Tacoma students turn out for College Bound Scholarship event

   More than 1,000 Tacoma middle-school students, parents and educators turned out Saturday morning, March 7, at Tacoma Community College to receive a special gift—the promise of a college education through the College Bound Scholarship program.

   Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, the event’s featured speaker, (pictured above) recalled his own life experiences to show that college can be more than a dream for those willing to work to achieve a goal.

   “We’re asking you and your parents to join on a journey that can establish a foundation for your lives that will last longer than anything,” Rice said.

   Then the nearly 300 students who signed up for the program stood and took a pledge to graduate from high school, earn satisfactory grades, and enroll in a Washington college or university.

   The College Bound Scholarship provides the promise of up to four years of college tuition and fees (plus $500 for books) for seventh and eighth grade students who meet the family-income requirements of the federal Free- and Reduced-Price Lunch Program.  Ninth grade students who qualify for the program may also sign up this year only.

   Administered by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), the program was created by the State Legislature in 2007. Since then, more than 21,000 students have taken the College Bound pledge. The HECB estimates 60,000 students are eligible for the program statewide.

   The HECB encourages school districts to hold sign-up events and other activities to spread awareness about the College Bound Scholarship among eligible students. Gov. Chris Gregoire recently urged school boards to adopt resolutions supporting the program.

   The College Bound Scholarship and similar programs help the state achieve its strategic goal of increasing the number students who earn college degrees and certificates. Studies show that more Washingtonians will have to earn degrees to meet the demands of Washington’s education-driven economy.

   A HECB white paper recently found that a more highly educated citizenry produces many social benefits—including higher incomes for all state residents, reduced reliance on social services, lower unemployment, and a greater level of participation in the community.

   More information about the College Bound Scholarship program is available on the HECB Web site.