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Financial Aid
> State Programs >
Special Awards
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The
following program provides financial assistance on the basis of academic
achievement. Recipients are selected by the New York State Education Department
and the Awards are paid through HESC.
This scholarship program is subject to an annual
appropriation determined by the New York State Legislature. The number of awards
available each year can vary depending on legislative action.
Scholarships are awarded by the New York State
Education Department and are paid through HESC.
Categories of Candidates
Priorities for selecting scholarship recipients
are:
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candidate who is economically disadvantaged and a member of a
minority group that is historically under-represented in the
profession for which the scholarship was awarded
-
candidate who is a member of a minority group that is
under-represented in the profession for which the scholarship
was awarded
-
candidate who is enrolled in or is a graduate of a
state-sponsored opportunity program such as SEEK, College
Discovery, EOP or HEOP
If the number of candidates with the same priority
exceeds the number of available scholarships in an award area, SED awards
scholarships by random selection.
Eligibility Criteria
To receive the scholarship the student must:
-
meet one of the United States citizenship requirements;
-
meet New York State residency requirements;
-
enroll as a full-time student;
-
have a matriculated status;
-
be
in good academic standing; have at least a cumulative "C" average after two
annual payments;
-
not
be in default on any guaranteed student loan HESC administers; and
-
enroll in a program in a field of study leading to Regents licensure as
designated by the New York State Commissioner of Education. (Designated
fields of study can be at the undergraduate or graduate level and are listed
in the State Education Department application booklet for this scholarship
program in a New York State institution.) Approved fields of study for this
scholarship are listed in Appendix B.
-
First-time recipients of an award as of the 1996-97 academic year must have
graduated from high school, have a GED or other equivalent of a high school
certificate, or have received a passing grade on an approved
ability-to-benefit test.
Duration
The scholarship will be available for a total of
seven years beginning with the first academic year. During the seven-year
period, students are entitled to payments for up to four academic years or the
equivalent.
Award Calculation
The maximum annual award of $5,000 is reduced by $1
for every $4 of total family income exceeding the established income figure for
the economically disadvantaged. The minimum annual award is $1,000. However, no
award can exceed the student's cost of attendance. If the student also receives
a TAP award, the combined award cannot exceed cost of attendance. In these
cases, HESC would reduce the TAP award accordingly.
Application Procedure
Students must submit an application to the State
Education Department by the deadline established for this program, which is
normally January preceding the academic year for which assistance is sought.
Those students selected to receive a scholarship must submit an application to
HESC by May 1 of the academic year for which assistance is being sought.
Concurrent Awards
A scholarship winner who receives any form of aid
that the New York State Commissioner of Education has determined cannot be held
concurrently with the scholarship is not eligible to receive payment while
receiving such aid. However, HESC does not revoke the scholarship, and if the
concurrent aid is later not available to the student, HESC will pay the
scholarship. If otherwise eligible, a student who receives concurrent aid may
still receive a TAP award. However, the combined award cannot exceed cost of
attendance. In these cases, HESC would reduce the TAP award accordingly.
Revocation
HESC can revoke the scholarship for any of the
following reasons:
-
The
student is enrolled at an out-of-state institution during the first academic
year of eligibility. The student loses all future eligibility for the award.
The scholarship cannot be reinstated even if the student later enrolls in a
program of study in a New York State institution.
-
The
student does not comply with the rules, regulations or conditions of the
institution.
-
The
student does not comply with the New York State Education Commissioner's
regulations or with any of HESC's provisions for using the award.
-
The
scholarship is awarded through error or contrary to law.
-
The
student is enrolled in a program of study not approved for this scholarship.
Reawards
If a recipient declines a scholarship, HESC will
reaward it to the next-highest ranking candidate up to January 31 of the
academic year for which the scholarship was originally awarded. The same
conditions that apply to original scholarship recipients also apply to
recipients of reawarded scholarships.
Service Requirements
HESC requires scholarship recipients to practice
their profession for which the scholarship was awarded in New York State. HESC
requires 12 months of service for each annual payment received. Within one year
of completing their programs of study, scholarship holders must forward to HESC
for approval a plan for completing their service obligation. Recipients who fail
to provide the required service will be required to repay twice the amount of
assistance received plus liquidated damage and interest at the maximum
prevailing rate within a five-year period. Repayment can be excused on grounds
of extreme hardship.
For additional information and applications, you
may contact HESC’s Grants and Scholarships Unit at the address and telephone
number listed below.
New York State Higher Education
Services Corporation
99 Washington Avenue · Albany, New York 12255 · (888)
NYS-HESC
www.hesc.com
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