Learning the lessons of life

Ketchikan (Alaksa) Daily News: In life, making a special effort and going the extra mile yields benefits: A job well done, a bonus earned, a house built, a standing ovation. It’s good when schooling reflects and prepares youngsters for some of life’s lessons.

That’s what the Alaska Performance Scholarships do. Students who take the most difficult courses can earn scholarships from the state, with the amount varying depending on the student’s performance. The scholarships can be used for career and technical training as well as university studies.

Now, there’s a fund that will keep those scholarships alive. Gov. Parnell signed the legislation last week creating that sustainable fund at Unalaska High School.

According to the governor’s office, the fund will be seeded by $400 million set aside by the governor in 2011. The interest from that fund will be used for scholarships and grants. The fund will contain not only the interest it earns as well as legislative appropriations, but also donations. The bill authorizing the fund authorizes some tax credits for contributions to the scholarship.

More than 4,500 Alaska students have met the requirements since the scholarships began in 2011.

Work harder, do better: A good lesson.