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Tuesday Deadline For Incoming Freshmen To Enroll In 21st Century Scholar Program

Last updated on Friday, June 19, 2015

(BEDFORD) - Tuesday is the deadline for incoming high school freshman to enroll in Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program, the state’s premier college scholarship and preparation program for income eligible students.

Increasing the education attainment and workforce training of residents is a top priority of local leaders because it improves the ability to attract and retain local jobs that employees residents, improves the well-being of local families, and ultimately benefits the entire community.

One way to increase education and workforce training is to increase the number of 7th and 8th grade students enrolled in the 21st Century Scholars program.

That is why during the month of April and May Mayor Shawna Girgis and several other leaders from the City of Bedford, Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, and Lawrence County Economic Growth Council visited Lawrence County middle schools and shared information regarding how to enroll in the program.

Students that successfully enroll in the program and complete a four year degree at a state school like IU or Purdue will receive an education valued at approximately $100,000. If all of the Lawrence County 21st Century Scholar enrollees in 7th - 12th grade take full advantage of the program that is over $62 million dollars invested in local youth through education and training plus multiple millions of dollars in increased future earnings over a lifetime.

In 2013 of the 92 Indiana counties only two had experienced decreased enrollment in the 21st Century Scholars program and Lawrence County was one of them - until last year. Through efforts of the Up 4 Ed partners in 2014 enrollment increased by 450%. While we are making amazing progress there are many eligible students that still need to sign up for the 21st Century Scholars Program. That is why I urge every parent of a 7th or 8th grader to enroll their child today.

More information is available about the 21st Century Scholars Program at www.in.gov/21stcenturyscholars. You can also contact Bedford City Hall at 812-279-6555 or the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce at 812-275-4923 with questions. You can schedule an appointment with a staff member at the Bedford Public Library who can assist you with the enrollment process by calling 812-275-4471.

For more information on the Up 4 Ed initiative please visit www.Up4Ed.com.

UP 4 ED: The goal of the Lawrence County Up 4 Ed initiative is to increase local awareness regarding the importance of post-secondary education, provide information about how to plan for and pay for higher education, and ultimately increase education attainment and workforce training among local residents. Up 4 Ed partners include the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, Bedford Public Library, Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County, City of Bedford, City of Mitchell, College Success Coalition, Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation, Ivy Tech - Bloomington Campus, Joyce Poling, Lawrence County Community Foundation, Lawrence County Economic Growth Council, Lawrence County Museum, Lawrence County Tourism, Lawrence County Community Foundation, Mayor Shawna Girgis, Mitchell Community School Corporation, Bedford Revitalization Inc., North Lawrence Community School Corporation, Oakland City University, and SOAR. (Financial sponsors of the Lawrence County Up 4 Ed initiative are listed in bold).

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