City of Lawrenceburg Increases Scholarship Amount For Program At DCF

NEWS RELEASE                                                                         

                                                                            Contact: Fred McCarter (812) 539-4115

For Immediate Release

CITY OF LAWRENCEBURG INCREASES SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT FOR PROGRAM AT DCF

LAWRENCEBURG, IND., July 20, 2007 – Thanks to the City of Lawrenceburg’s generosity Lawrenceburg High School graduates who qualify for a scholarship through the Lawrenceburg Educational Grant Program at the Dearborn Community Foundation, Inc. (DCF) will receive $1,800 annually to help with the cost of their post-secondary education. City council recently approved increasing the scholarship from $1,600 to $1,800.

Approximately 150 LHS graduates now participate in the educational grant program established by the city in 2002. DCF administers the program which is focused on promoting further education by LHS graduates who meet specific eligibility criteria. Eligible graduates can receive the scholarship for up to four years of post-secondary education.

The program has steadily grown since its inception. A service learning component was initiated as part of eligibility into the educational grant program beginning with the Class of 2005. The service learning component requires LHS students to complete a designated number of volunteer hours, allowing them to partner with area not-for-profit organizations, with the goal of giving back to the community.

With the increase from $1,600 to $1,800 approved by city council, the service learning component of the program also changes. Beginning with the LHS class of 2007-2008, graduates must complete 50 hours of volunteer hours during their four years of high school.

“The City of Lawrenceburg feels it is important for the students to feel vested in their community and the service learning component allows students the opportunity to give back to the community while earning scholarship grant funds,” said Jerri Worthington, DCF Program Director. During the 2006-2007 academic year, LHS students completed more than 2,000 hours of volunteer time for local not-for-profit organizations that provide a benefit to Lawrenceburg and surrounding communities.          

The DCF issues the educational grant payment directly to the student’s post-secondary institution and funds can be used for tuition, required fees and/or books. Educational grant funds may be renewable for up to four years as long as the student continues to meet defined eligibility criteria.

For more information about this educational grant opportunity, other scholarships available through the DCF, please contact Jerri Worthington at 812-539-4115 or email her at dcfgrants@comcast.net.

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