Listen:
A pioneering scholarship program in Arizona is receiving an injection of cash from the federal government.
The $2.5 million will support AZ Earn to Learn, which helps low-income students in the state pay for college.
The program emphasizes financial responsibility. Students are required to save $500, participate in personal finance workshops, and meet regularly with a financial coach. That’s, of course, in addition to being normal college kids and doing well in classes.
In return, they get up to $4,000 in scholarship money each year.
It’s a significant chunk of cash that can mean the difference between going to college and not, said Kate Hoffman, who works with AZ Earn to Learn.
The program has received $6 million in federal funding since it began last year. It’s run at all three of Arizona’s public universities, which match federal funds dollar for dollar.
Hoffman said her organization is looking for other funding sources, besides the federal government, in order to expand the program.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.