MARIETTA, OHIO—Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) is now accepting applications for two spring scholarships for both new and continuing students. The funds are just one way the college is working to remove barriers to college.
Typically, scholarships are awarded prior to the beginning of the academic year that begins in August. However, in an effort to provide more opportunity for students to pursue higher education, WSCO is offering two, one-time scholarships for the spring semester, the Spring Start and the Spring Achievement.
“We’ve been focused on removing barriers that keep students from enrolling and completing college, and of course, finances are one of the leading roadblocks,” said Assistant Director of Financial Aid Hayley Hook. She explained that these scholarships are designed to encourage currently enrolled students to continue with their academic endeavors and inspire new students to pursue their college dream.
According to Hook, 44-percent of WSCO students have a household income of less than $30,000 which places them below the poverty level. Financial funding like these scholarships go a long way to help students earn a college degree which leads to a job with good earning potential.
The Spring Start Scholarship is available to new students who plan to enroll at Washington State during the spring 2021 semester. The Spring Achievement Scholarship is available to current WSCO students who are continuing their enrollment in spring 2021. Both spring scholarship opportunities will be awarded on a competitive basis for spring term and are valued up to $1,000.
“At Washington State, we’re doing everything we can to improve lives here in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” assured Hook, adding that her department focuses much of their efforts on helping students graduate college with little to no debt.
She said that when it comes to paying for college, she encourages students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to open up doors to both scholarships and need-based aid. “I tell every student to fill it out, whether or not they believe they qualify because it is often required for many academic scholarship applications.” To assist students, the WSCO Financial Aid Office serves as a resource to the community by helping families file the FAFSA regardless of where the student plans to attend college. “I like to say that we’re their FAFSA guide. We’re happy to help students navigate through the process, especially first-time students. While there have been improvements over the years to streamline the FAFSA and make it easier to complete, our staff is always available to answer questions and walk families through the process.”
Looking beyond spring semester, WSCO also has scholarship opportunities available for the 2021-22 academic year. To be considered for approximately $300,000 of scholarships through both the College and the WSCO Foundation, students only need to fill out one simplified scholarship application called the One and Done application.
All scholarship criteria and applications are available at wscc.edu/scholarships. The deadline to apply for spring 2021 scholarships is December 4, 2020. The deadline to apply for scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year is March 15, 2021.
