More Youngstown students eligible for foundation cash for college

YOUNGSTOWN

More city high school students are on pace to take advantage of a Youngstown Foundation program that helps pay for college.

YSTAR provides “last-dollar scholarships” for city high school students who want to attend either Youngstown State University or Eastern Gateway Community College.

“The first year it was in operation [last year] there were 450 [high school] freshmen that were eligible to sign up and 310 went on to their sophomore year,” said Janice Strasfeld, executive director of the Youngstown Foundation.

“They’ve all earned the first $1,000.”

The class of 2016 from city schools, last year’s freshmen, are the first students eligible to realize the full benefit of the program.

This year’s sophomores and juniors also are eligible.