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TOLEDO, OH -- In a joint press release Friday, the University of Toledo announced that it was extending its “UT Guarantee” full-tuition scholarship program to Washington Local Schools, beginning with Whitmer High School’s Class of 2009.

Parents of grade point-eligible seniors are invited to an Information Night at Whitmer on Tuesday, January 13 (7 p.m.).   Kevin Kucera, UT Associate Vice President, Division of Enrollment Services, will distribute information packets and share details about the program.

More than 200 Whitmer seniors will visit the UT campus on Friday, January 30 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.), to learn more about the possibility of 100% free tuition and the many academic opportunities at UT.  The campus visit will include a tour, a college fair, and an opportunity to talk with UT students who graduated from Whitmer.

Washington Local Superintendent Patrick Hickey contacted the University of Toledo in the fall, when UT announced the scholarship program for Toledo Public Schools, and asked university officials to consider expanding the program to Whitmer.  UT enthusiastically agreed, and now all eligible public high school students in Toledo will have the opportunity to attend tuition-free.

 “This is truly a landmark day for students and families in our district,” Hickey said. “We are the largest feeder school for the university, and we value our partnership in helping students achieve their goals and aspirations.”

“I know these are tough economic times for many families,” Hickey continued. “The UT Guarantee is an incredible opportunity.  I hope that this new partnership enables Whitmer students, who previously believed college was not an affordable option, to be able to attend UT and pursue their dreams.”

UT created the “Guarantee” to attract more students from six Ohio urban communities with a scholarship program that covers 100% tuition and general fees for academically qualified students that also have financial need.  In addition to Washington Local and Toledo Public, students at Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton can attend UT for free under the “UT Guarantee,” if they meet the eligibility requirements for the Blue and Gold Scholar Award: 

• Minimum high school grade-point-average of 3.0
• Apply for admission by April 1, 2009
• File Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 1, 2009
• Display eligibility for a Pell Grant

Lawrence Burns, vice president for external affairs, says the UT Guarantee is about more than just increasing enrollment and spreading the UT name.

“Due to today’s high cost of a college education, many high school students and their parents don’t think about it as a realistic opportunity,” said Burns. “We want to change that mindset and get our urban students to begin preparing themselves for a university education when they’re in junior high school.”

The UT Guarantee program is renewable for four years, as long as its recipients maintain a 3.0 G.P.A., complete 30 credit hours each school year, and file a FAFSA annually.

Enrollment at UT surged by almost 6 percent university-wide in the fall, marking the third consecutive year of increasing numbers. The enrollment increase includes 3,899 direct-from-high-school students, the largest number of incoming freshmen in UT’s history, and a jump of 8.5 percent over last year.

UT currently has nine colleges, more than 250 areas of study and enrolls more than 22,000 students.

For more information about the program and a complete list of the eligible schools, please visit http://www.utoledo.edu/admission/scholarships/bluegold.html.