News

September 30, 2009

High grades pay off at Keystone College

High school students in four NEPA school districts can earn $22K for tuition by doing well in class.

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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In one of those instances where good grades really do pay off, students at four area high schools have financial incentives to secure high marks.

Keystone College in La Plume partners with the Lackawanna Trail, Tunkhannock, Mountain View, and Lakeland school districts to offer students a chance to earn $22,000 in tuition at Keystone while they are still in high school.

Students need to sign up for the program in their freshman year and there is no obligation to attend Keystone once they receive their diploma.

The guidelines for the scholarship program, now in its sixth year, are pretty basic. High school students must enroll in the ninth grade and maintain a minimum grade point average of a “B.” If a student meets those goals, he or she will receive $1,000 to be applied toward future Keystone tuition. They can earn additional money each year of high school they meet the goal.

The available tuition amount increases to $1,250 for sophomores, $1,500 for juniors, and $1,750 for seniors, for a total of $5,500 in yearly tuition reduction at Keystone. Specific minimum grade point averages must be maintained during each subsequent year of high school. The $5,500 amount is renewed each year during a four-year period at Keystone, for a total financial award of $22,000.

Tuition for full-time students at Keystone is $8,785 per semester.

That’s just what Paige Ross did. The 2009 Lackawanna Trail graduate is in her freshman year at Keystone and is one of 139 students taking advantage of the program.

“Participation in the Keystone College High School Scholarship Incentive Program continues to increase each year as more students and their parents realize the benefits of enrolling. The program is especially valuable during difficult economic times as families search for every means possible to pay for a quality college education for their children,” said Keystone College Vice President of Enrollment Sarah Keating.

Guidance counselors, including Ellen Frank at Lackawanna Trail High School and Eliza Comly at Tunkhannock High School, said there isn’t really a downside to enrolling in the program, regardless of whether you have plans on attending Keystone College.

“There’s no risk to the students,” said Comly. “It’s a good program and a good school.”

Comly said about 40 upper classmen are enrolled in the program at Tunkhannock but did not have figures for sophomore or freshmen students. She said the figures have been pretty consistent each year with about 20 enrolling as freshmen.

“There’s no harm at all. It’s just signing a paper,” Comly said.

Frank echoed those sentiments, saying she tries to “get every student to enroll in it. You can’t lose. It’s like a free lottery ticket.”

Program growth?

Though there are only four school districts involved, there is a potential for expansion. High schools considering to get involved in the program are encouraged to contact Kristen Greene in the Keystone College admissions office at 945-8111.

Andrew M. Seder, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7269.

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