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I am extremely concerned on how the proposed changes to the HOPE scholarship will impact the deserving students who financially could not attend college without it.
Reduction in aid can make the difference of some needy students not being able to attend college at all. This program is an excellent motivator for students in high school to work hard and achieve their personal best and graduate with the hope of a brighter future.
The HOPE program inspires students to reach academic excellence. This leads to a much higher high school graduation rate as well. During a time of economic crisis, this boosts much needed federal funding as well.
With budget shortfalls, I understand changes have to be made. I understand this is not an entitlement program, but keep in mind students "earn" HOPE by their grades and hard work. They will pay it back 10 times over by being well-educated productive members of society, our future leaders.
In a utopian climate, it would be wonderful for all families rich and poor to benefit from HOPE. Now in these dire budget circumstances this is not possible. Our success and future depends on sending as many deserving top students to college as possible; they are our future and hope.
The wealthy can manage to live this dream without the HOPE program, or at a reduced amount. The middle and lower classes struggle, and these students may pay the price of never obtaining a higher education without all of HOPE's benefits.
The honorable thing to do would be to make it needs-based and grade-earned. That way the highest possible amount of quality students achieve their dream. The students are then in an educated position to contribute to our state, national and global economic security.
I hope you all do the right thing. This is not a handout, but a hand to rise up.
Jim Staub
Dahlonega