Starting in January 2011, students who fulfill the Wisconsin Covenant Pledge and demonstrate considerable financial need will receive a $1,500 grant from the Wisconsin Covenant Foundation, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Friday.
According to Shannon Loredo, development director at the Wisconsin Covenant Foundation, the grant is applicable to students who fulfill the stipulations of the Wisconsin Covenant Pledge and have an estimated family contribution of $0 on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
The Wisconsin Covenant Pledge allows students who graduate from a Wisconsin high school, hold at least a B average, take classes to prepare for college and are a good citizen to receive financial aid based on their family’s needs.
They are also reserved a place at a University of Wisconsin campus or technical college, or private college connected with the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
According to the statement released by the governor’s office regarding the grant, the Wisconsin Covenant Foundation is a private, non-profit group formed by Doyle in November 2007 that focuses on supporting post-secondary education.
The foundation was initially given $40 million from the Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation to fulfill its goal of supporting students with financial need to continue their post-secondary education.
The Wisconsin Covenant Foundation facilitates the grant, and more than 50,000 students have signed the pledge in the last three years, according to a statement released by the governor’s office.
All students who meet the requirements of the pledge receive a financial need package. However, not all students who meet the pledge requirements will receive the grant.
While students have received benefits from the Wisconsin Covenant Pledge since 2007, the first class who will be qualified to receive the $1,500 grant will be the class of 2011, who are now juniors in high school, Loredo said.
Doyle signed a $25 million per year permanent allocation to the Wisconsin Covenant Scholar Grant. This appropriation, will supplement standard financial aid.
Doyle is working to make the eligibility criteria available for the next school year so students can begin applying for the grant.
The $25 million appropriation is not the first piece of legislation Doyle has made for increasing financial aid for post-secondary education. According to the statement, Doyle increased financial aid by $44 million in the 2007-09 biennial budget and increased financial aid by $25 million in the 2009-11 biennial budget.
Doyle also increased the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant for UW System schools from $2,500 to $3,000.
“This grant is very, very good news for students who come from families with documented financial needs,” UW System spokesperson David Giroux said. “We know need-based financial aid makes a big difference for first-generation college students. A student with the talent and drive should not be held back because of price.”