YAKIMA — Washington high school students interested in studying science, technology, engineering, mathematics or health care in college could be eligible for $22,500 scholarships.
There’s only one issue.
Not enough people are applying, said Jessica Monger, external affairs director for the Washington Opportunity Scholarship. The scholarship program will award 1,275 students across the state a $22,500 scholarship if they’re interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) or health care.
So far, Monger said, there have been around 780 completed applications statewide and just more than 40 in Yakima County. Last year, more than 100 Yakima County students were awarded the scholarship.
The scholarship is open to students from low- or middle-income families who are interested in attending a four-year university now or after community college. The $22,500 scholarship is for students’ entire time in college.
Monger said a family of four that makes less than $125,000 would qualify. Monger urged interested students to reach out and ask questions.
“For anyone who has concerns, who wants to talk to a real person,” Monger said. “We’ll talk to them.”
The program goes beyond supporting students in college. Monger said the goal is to get students into a job in one of those fields within nine months of graduation from college.
Students must have a 2.75 GPA in high school to apply. The application is online, Monger added, and grammar or language do not matter. There are no essays, only short answer questions, and the application asks students what they have studied and want to study, as well as where they want to go to school.
One hang up, Monger added, is that the Washington Opportunity Scholarship requires a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There have been delays in the new FAFSA process, said Monger and Daniel Villanueva, who helps students apply for and attend college with the College Success Foundation.
A new FAFSA process was launched by the federal government this year. Villanueva said that launch, while well-intentioned, has left some students anxious due to glitches and an inability to fix mistakes. Students from migrant worker families or with undocumented parents have been particularly impacted, he added.
The portion of Washington Opportunity Scholarship deadline that involves the FAFSA was extended because of those delays, Monger said, and staff are working with students on a case-by-case basis to make sure they can apply and access financial aid.
“We have extended (the FAFSA deadline) to April 5,” Monger said. “We’re really flexible to work with individual families.”
Villanueva praised the Washington Opportunity Scholarship for its flexibility and efforts to work with students. He also urged people to apply.
“They have done a fantastic job of seeing these issues and working with us to help reassure the students we serve,” Villanueva said. “Their understanding doesn’t go unnoticed and we hope they see great application numbers given the reassuring approach they’ve taken.”
