Lyon County Commissioners are on board with a new scholarship opportunity benefiting Emporia State University students.
During their weekly action session Thursday, commissioners unanimously approved a one-time appropriation not to exceed $350,000 after conversations with University leadership. The grade point average based scholarship will seek to increase new students at the university through three main components:
*Offering scholarships to high school students with stellar grade point averages who don’t take ACT tests.
*Separate funding for community college or technical college students that otherwise may not transfer to any university
*Developing majors in high-growth areas like computer science and technology.
During Thursday’s commission meeting, Commissioner Scott Briggs stated that over the years he has seen a consistent decline in funding from the state level for higher learning institutions. He is hopeful the new program can be a spark to reverse these trends.
Briggs stated this is a major step in furthering development in the community as increased enrollment at the university will likely translate to an increased quality workforce.
The county’s appropriation is contingent on identical appropriations from both the Emporia State University Foundation and the Emporia City Commission. The foundation has already committed to its allocation with city commissioners set to take action on the matter at a later time.
The allocation will come on top of the county’s annual $250,000 scholarship allocation to the University.
The Lyon County Commission will reconvene for its weekly action session next Wednesday at 9 am inside the Lyon County Courthouse.
