YSU establishes new scholarship for freshmen

Staff report

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Youngstown State University has established a new scholarship that will provide $1,000 to incoming freshmen.

The First Opportunity Award, available starting fall semester 2014, is for prospective freshmen with a high school grade- point average of 3.0 and a score of 20 on the ACT or 900 on the SAT exam, said Gary Swegan, associate vice president for Enrollment Planning and Management.

The award is part of the university’s Scholarships for Excellence program that provides scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 annually for nearly 3,000 students based on high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores.

“The new First Opportunity Award is aimed at a group of students currently not covered in our scholarship program,” Swegan said. “These are students we believe are deserving of the financial support to help them be successful at YSU.”

YSU projects that as many as 200 to 300 students could be eligible to receive the award.

The YSU Foundation, as well as the university, funds the scholarships.

More information about the scholarship, as well as other financial aid for students, will be available at YSU’s Financial Aid Night at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center on the YSU campus. College-bound students and their parents are encouraged to attend. Participants will learn the basics about applying for financial aid and get direct assistance and insights from YSU financial-aid professionals. For more information or to register, visit www.ysu.edu/finaid/night, or call 330-941-1661.

The YSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships also is hosting Financial Aid Awareness Week on campus, today through Thursday. Financial-aid professionals will be available to answer questions about grants, scholarships and loans from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first floor of Kilcawley Center across from Home Savings and Loan.

The event is taking place in advance of the Feb. 15 deadline to complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the Institutional Aid Application.