News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 3, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke honors 74 Promise Scholarship winners attending Olympic College

BREMERTON - Gov. Gary Locke today honored 74 state Promise Scholarship winners attending Olympic College.

The governor spoke at a reception honoring scholars chosen by academic performance and financial need.

"I proposed the Promise Scholarships because I believe that students showing promise deserve a promise from the state," Locke said.

"And I believe that if a student has a strong academic record - and comes from a low- or middle-income family - that student deserves to pursue the American Dream of a college education and receive a two-year scholarship from the state to make that dream a reality," he added.

Dr. Cynthia Azari, Olympic's vice president for instruction, said, "Matching capability with opportunity is the goal of the state's community college system. Giving excellent students the opportunity to further their education is a perfect example of how Washington is working to prepare its next generation of leaders. Olympic College is proud to have more than 60 Promise Scholars on campus."

The governor noted nearly 5,700 Washington students have received Promise Scholarships since the program was established in 1999.

"It is my dream that someday - and someday soon - no high-achieving student will be blocked from pursuing a higher education because of financial burden," Locke said.

This year, students are eligible to receive up to $1,542 from the Promise Scholarship program. That is worth more than 90 percent of resident tuition for one year at a state community college.

Approximately 2,150 students from the class of 1999 will receive their second and final award this year at Washington colleges. Approximately 3,450 graduates from the class of 2000 are eligible to receive them.

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