EXTRA CONTENT: Local students received over $6.5 million in assistance generated by Lottery in 2009

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Local students received over $6.5 million in college scholarships and grants this fiscal year through proceeds from the Kentucky Lottery, officials with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) said recently.

In a report issued late last month, officials with the Kentucky Lottery provided a breakdown of the number of financial assistance recipients and the amount awarded for each county in eastern Kentucky.

Overall, nearly 24,000 students in the eastern part of the state received $37 million in scholarships and grants from Lottery proceeds.

"The Kentucky Lottery plays a vital role in providing funding for direct benefits to students through Kentucky’s need-based grants and KEES scholarships," said Edward J. Cunningham, Executive Director/CEO of the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority and The Student Loan People. "In fact, 95 percent of the $194 million awarded to help students pay for college or technical training in academic year 2008-2009 was made possible by lottery proceeds."

Scholarships and grants are given through three different programs: the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship Program (KEES), College Access Program (CAP) and Kentucky Tuition Grants (KTG).

KEES is “merit-based” and is available to students who achieve a 2.5 or higher grade point average. It goes to help pay the cost of higher education at any eligible Kentucky college or technical college. CAP is a need-based grant program to provide access to Kentucky’s financially neediest students.  KTG is a need-based grant program for students attending Kentucky’s independent institutions.

In Whitley County, 517 students received a total of $729,704 in KEES funds, 429 got $664,517 in CAP assistance and 273 were awarded $734,692 in KTG grants. Whitley students received a total of $2,128,913 in assistance.

In the tri county area, $6,556,703 was given to a total of 3,999 students received grant and scholarship funds generated from Lottery proceeds.

Visit www.kheaa.com to find out more information about grants and scholarship paid for by KLC.