April 20, 2007

Five Presbyterian College students showed their support of the South Carolina Tuition Grants Program on Wednesday during S.C. Independent College and University Day at the State House in Columbia.

Students Gail Atkinson, Erin Bailey, Guy Dooley, Craig Engle, and Mandy Pittman joined students from independent schools throughout the state to thank lawmakers for their support of the program, which lends financial aid to qualified students who attend one of the 20 independent colleges or universities in the state.

S.C. Tuition Grants totaling approximately $1.4 million were awarded to 477 PC students this academic year, according to the college's Office of Financial Aid.

Craig Engle, a junior from Aiken. Engle said he welcomed the opportunity to speak out on behalf of the Tuition Grants Program.

"I really enjoyed going down to Columbia and talking with my state leaders," he said. "They were really nice and seemed like they were really interested in helping us more. The Life Scholarship and South Carolina Tuition Grant has given me and many others thousands of dollars that allow us to attend great schools like PC."

Guy Dooley, a junior from Moncks Corner, agreed.

"This program has allowed me and many others to attend the private school of my choice," he said. "Without this grant, I probably would not be attending this fine institution known as Presbyterian College."

In the case of Erin Bailey, a junior from Lexington, Tuition Grants allow both her and her twin sister, Emily, the opportunity to attend PC.

"(The Tuition Grants program) really helps us afford PC without taking out lots of student loans to have to worry about paying back down the road," she said.

In addition to saying "thank you," students also enjoyed interacting with lawmakers and seeing them at work in the State House.

"I liked the atmosphere of the State House, with all the different people there lobbying for what they believe is right, and the legislators taking the time to listen to all of them," Engle said.

Dooley noted that the state's policy-makers seemed to welcome the time to meet with constituents.

"The lawmakers were very eager to meet with us and were all pleasantly surprised to see young college students coming together to thank the legislature for their support," he said. "Many of the lawmakers were very cordial and they all asked about our thoughts on the current S.C. Tuition Grants program."

Bailey said she was especially thankful for the opportunity to meet with her hometown senator – Sen. Jake Knotts of Lexington.

"He was so friendly and gracious and made it very clear that he was a great advocate, as well as founder, of programs that supported education on all levels," she said. "He told us all about the 'Skate Night' he hosts for students in elementary and middle schools who make the honor roll – where his goal is to recognize and reward students for succeeding, something he believes is rarely done in schools today. The S.C. Tuition Grant is another way to reward students for succeeding and we are very thankful to have his support."

Before reading the Governor's proclamation, S.C. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer emphasized the interaction between policy-maker and citizen over decisions that affect the future.

"While you're here today, I hope you'll bend your House member or senator's ear and tell them the things you think are important – whether it's funding or scholarships or lower taxes, whatever it may be," he said. "This is part of the process. A lot of times you see a lot of laws that pertain to senior citizens or tax groups or one group or another – and that's because they're very vocal. They spend a lot of time up here."

Bauer urged young people to speak up more often for their own interests.

 "We don't spend enough time in public policy arguing for what laws can behoove us or be beneficial to us, therefore you don't see a whole lot of legislation that helps younger people, whether it's tax incentives getting a new business started, tax breaks for your first-time home buyer – a lot of things you'll face as you get out of college. So, more than anything, if I can leave you with a message today, it would be involvement. … Hopefully, some of you will be inspired by being here today and want to get involved in public policy."

Mission accomplished, said Bailey.

"Being able to thank our legislators in person for their support of these grants was so great," she said. First because we're helping them put faces to the financing they're continuing to support to make PC more affordable for us, and second so that we can say 'thank you' and let them know that the S.C. Tuition Grants really help out and makes a difference and ask for their continued support. Our hope is that they'll be more inclined to remember and advocate the grants when they know how helpful the money is and how much students appreciate it."

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