Comments about ‘Lawmakers restore New Century scholarships’

Was the funding for the students qualifying for the Regents Scholarship restored? Does anyone know?

Try reading the story and you will find your positive answer.

has anyone considered the fact that we are pushing 16 year old kids to complete an Associates degree before graduating from HS. so then they need to come to university life at 18 years of age with LITTLE TO NO life experience and make their decision on what they will do for the rest of their lives? Are these decisions being made in the interest of the kids or are they being made to make parents feel good about themselves. New century puts too much emphasis on achievement with little to no focus on future and exploration. I mean seriously you adults out there how many of you knew what you would be when you left high school?

Great to hear that those who chose to work so hard for what they wanted will be rewarded in full! Well done students, and thanks to the powers that be for making the right choice, as well. Lessons learned, one being don't underestimate those young up-and-comers!

Even in hard financial times, we want to go easy on education. Education is the best investment we can make in the future. Also promices should be kept.

Our family is currently hosting a Chinese teacher because our junior high school has decided to teach Chinese this year.

She told me that in China to become a teacher is very competitive, and many people who want to become teachers can't.

China takes education very seriously, much more so than here. This lady is a university lecturer who majored in English. As I tutor my son in math (to make up for the deficient math education being offered here in Utah), she sometimes sits in on the tutoring and her math knowledge amazes me.

I've had her do several math problems, from classical geometry, to deriving the quadratic equation and she either does the problems herself or reviews my proofs for accuracy. What english major here out of high school could do that?

Utah needs to do better, our education isn't as good as China, nor is the Utah math education anywhere near what it was when I was young.

I am happy the scholarship was restored. Education is a wonderful investment in the future and we ought to keep our word to these young students.

That said, these students are cheating themself, if they use classes taken in High School as a means to take only two years of University.

Ideally kids should take substancial classes in High school and still spend 4 years getting their degree in University. Getting double credit means less education in the end.

If I was in charge of these scholarships, I would reform them so that students would take serious classes in High School, but that double credit not be given, and then the students would spend 4 more years in University.

The last thing we need is more people with shallow educations.

Keep in mind that these kids are going to need some very basic skills to make it in the coming economy and world of work. Make sure they go out ready to do things and provide services that will always be needed, either for themselves or others. Build, cut hair, work with their hands mechanically.

"Democratic legislators say GOP leaders originally offered 66 percent tuition scholarships, but when Democrats balked at that reduction, the full 75 percent was restored".
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Thank you democrats. Why is it that republicans can somehow always find a way to lower taxes in a way where the rich get most of the benefits, but scholarships that have been promised, they can't see a way?

A conservative state with a liberal act. The state is hurting for money. teachers are not getting paid, State employees are losing jobs, The state faces addition cuts and we pay for kids to go to college. The arguement is we promised the kids. Well, what about other promises that were and are broken? Line up in Utah and get free handouts at the cost of the citizenery.

@terrible program. You are assuming that parents are pushing their kids into and through this program. My son heard about the program from the school, made the decision himself to enter, and followed through with no pressure at all from his parents. It was his own initiative that was rewarded with an Associates Degree upon graduating from HS. I'm proud of the initiative and hard work he put in.

Are other scholarships being reduced to pay for these Century Scholarships? I ask because my daughter who is a Junior at a State College just had her's reduced at the last minute. Are we robbing Peter to pay Paul?

I had two daughters that both got the New Century Scholarship. Both graduated from college at 19. One got a job after that and has worked for her current employer for 6 years and has a position that people who have it are usually 10 years older then her. She's doing a great job and is currently working on a Masters degree which she is slated to get this May. The other daughter just finished an MFA and was younger then most students who got their bachelors degree. She has a job in her chosen field and is happy.

I'm glad the state is honoring their commitment to students who excel and worked hard to get ahead. I know this program is not for everyone. My third daughter is enjoying her time in college and is taking her time making up her mind about what to do with her life, but she's different and doing it her way and it's working for her and I'm proud of her as well.

You must see something in the article that I do not. The Regents' Scholarship is a separate program from the Century Scholarship. It too was reduced from the promised 75% of tuition for the first two years of college.

The Century Scholarship is given to students who complete their Associates Degree while in high school. The Regents' Scholarship was passed by the legislature in its 2008 session. It was promised to students who take a certain cadre of college prep classes (Physics/Biology/Chemistry, 3 years of history, 3 years of math above Geometry, 4 years of English, 2 years of a foreign language), and maintain a minimum of a 3.75 cumulative GPA and get a minimum of a 26 on the ACT test.

The only program I saw mentioned in the article was the Century Scholarship. I saw no mention of the Regents' Scholarship, but perhaps it is included, mentioned in a way such that I didn't make the correlation. If so, please point it out to me. Thank you.

I am a senior, planning to graduate with my Associate's. I am so glad that this scholarship has been restored. I live in a rural area and opportunities like this are VERY hard to come by. When I heard that they were cutting the scholarship to possibly 25% rather than the promised 75% I was stunned and wasn't sure if I should continue with this program. It wasn't really worth it anymore. Now it is again! Thank you!!! :D

Whoever said that high school students are getting double credit in high school. Some count for high school credit, but each and every student needs to obtain college level credit equivalent to an associates degree - about 70 credits. They aren't waltzing through this program. It is hard work and includes summer course work and often includes going to a community college to complete certain courses.

Yes, 4 years in college after high school is likely beneficial, but you have to admit, having many of those general education baseline courses out of the way is very beneficial. Why should they have to wait until out of high school to get those classes out of the way. We hear complaints about high school graduates coming to college unprepared (in terms of math, english and writing skills). Kids taking college level english and math while in high school will have a significant advantage.

Not everyone can afford the luxury of 4 years of exhorbitant college tuition. The program gives those motivated enough to work harder to finish sooner.

Btw, just because you have a piece of paper doesn't mean you are smart.

There's almost half a billion in surplus from last year's budget. Sure wish I was "hurting" with a savings account like that!

Right move ... right time! Go Century Senior grads!

my sister earned the new century scholarship and to our family it was huge to not have to pay for tuition. She worked many long hours above and beyond what normal students take on- she went to the local university to do her classes and took many ap classes and did extra things online -she studied so hard for her tests- basically the last 3 years of her life she's worked her but off to get this tuition money payed for. She deserves it more than anyone I know along with all the other kids who did it. She has a dream to be a vet and this scholarship helps her in her journey- think about all the amazing and smart motivated kids and what they will do with their lives- thanks for keeping your word, and showing that education is important.

I have twins who are entering 9th grade tomorrow. They have signed up for the Utah Scholars program so we know what classes to commit to during the next 4 years. Not only have I encouraged them to participate in the program to excel in learning, but also to hopefully assist in paying for 2 college students at once. If I were a parent of a student who chose to participate in the New Century scholarship program (Assoc degree at graduation), only to be told that the money was not available for college, I would be furious! There is a lot of sacrifice for many years to commit to more challenging classes and a higher GPA in turn for a reward of help with higher education. I am tired of government entities putting up road blocks for future leaders! First it was NCLB catering to lesser students while the students who excel are left by the wayside. Now it the committed students who want to excel in higher education that are being told that their achievement reward promised by the state isn't going to come through afterall. "Oh, but you still got a great education. You should be happy"