December 10, 2004

13,000 MASSACHUSETTS STUDENTS WIN FREE COLLEGE TUITION

Governor Romney congratulates first recipients of Adams scholarships

BROCKTON – Governor Mitt Romney today visited Brockton High School to deliver the news that 13,000 Massachusetts students have qualified for four years of free tuition at one of the state’s public colleges and universities under the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program.

At Brockton High, 199 students from the Class of 2005 who were among the top scorers on the MCAS exam received letters notifying them that they are eligible for the Adams scholarship, which was proposed by Romney and approved by the Board of Higher Education. Twenty-five percent of the Brockton students receiving the scholarships are African American, eight percent are Hispanic and 19 percent speak English as a second language.

Romney congratulated students in Brockton and across the Commonwealth for their extraordinary accomplishment.

“The Adams scholarship is based on merit and is open to everyone regardless of whether they are black or white, rich or poor, from a suburban school or an urban setting. For families struggling to make ends meet, it’s a way to help with the high cost of college tuition,” said Romney.

Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey said the Adams scholarship is partly designed to persuade the best and brightest high school students to continue their education in Massachusetts.

“You are the future leaders of our state. We want you to stay in Massachusetts,” Healey told the students.

Beginning with this year’s senior class, the Adams scholarship is open to all public school students who score in the Advanced category in either the English or math section of the MCAS test and at least in the Proficient category on the other section by the end of their junior year. The student’s MCAS scores must also rank in the top 25 percent of their school district to qualify.

“The students receiving this scholarship earned it through their hard work, dedication, and commitment to their education,” said Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll. “I’m proud of each and every one of them, and pleased to be able to reward their efforts with this opportunity to continue their education beyond high school.”

Students who receive the Adams scholarship must complete their college program in four years or less and maintain a 3.0 grade point average. Last academic year, the average tuition was $740 at community colleges, $977 at state colleges and $1,575 at the University of Massachusetts. The scholarship does not cover fees or room and board.

The merit-based scholarship program – which was first proposed by Romney in his 2004 State of the State address – complements the $95 million in needs-based financial aid the state spends each year on students from low-income families.

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