Lower scholarship estimates decrease impact this year

September 4, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. | Updated September 4, 2011 at 12:00 p.m.

A lower estimate of the amount of money available for state scholarships has not helped students wanting to attend college but it has drastically reduced problems of college administrators.

Last year the Missouri Department of Higher Education greatly overestimated the amount of Access Missouri scholarship money that would be available for each recipient.

But this year the Missouri Department of Higher Education estimated the amount of money available for Access Missouri and Bright Flight scholarships would be far below the legal maximum.

Aimee Bristow, director of financial aid at Westminster College in Fulton, said she was notified on Aug. 29 by the Missouri Department of Higher Education that the maximum amount of state-financed Access Missouri and Bright Flight scholarships will be held to the legal minimum this year.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.