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Excelsior — explained

Cuomo selects Gowanda for scholarship presentation

OBSERVER Photo by Andrew David Kuczkowski. New York Higher Education Service Corp. Senior Vice President Lonnie Threatte

GOWANDA — Ever since the Excelsior Scholarship was accepted in the New York state budget, New York residents asked, “What does this mean and how does it affect us?”

Wednesday afternoon, Gowanda High School was chosen as the only school in Western New York to host New York Higher Education Service Corp. Senior Vice President Lonnie Threatte. He gave a speech on the parameters of the scholarship and answered questions from the audience of ninth- through 12th-graders and community members, as well.

Many of the questions were focused around what qualifies someone to be a recipient. The basic summation of the scholarship is that for the first year, fall and spring of 2017-18, the college student’s family must make under $100,000 in adjusted gross income to qualify; the second year is under the $110,000 mark; the third is $125,000.

The student must take 15 credits a semester, thus making him or her a full-time student. The money is only given toward the cost of tuition, not other categories like room and board, and if the student receives money from the Pell grant and New York’s Tuition Assistance Program, that totals over the cost of tuition, then the Excelsior Scholarship isn’t applicable to the student.

Many students and teachers alike were worried about the mandatory stay in New York for as many years as the student received the scholarship. So, three years of tuition-free education means three years of stay in New York. However, Threatte admitted that there are some exceptions, like the employer moving the job to another state or military departure.

OBSERVER File Photo by Andrew David Kuczkowski. Gowanda Superintendent James Klubek.

And though these students are in high school, a common question asked was the effect on taxes and how will it impact taxpayers in the coming years. Threatte countered that with the trend of lowering tax rates in New York and how Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s efforts have been enhancing the state today and in the future.

The benefits for soon-to-be college students will be helpful for those who are in the middle class.

“The secret is that New York state already does an awesome job on student financial aid,” Threatte said. “Because of our TAP program, because of our STEM essential programs that the Governor put into place, he put into loan forgiveness programs. We can’t make ‘free’ any freer, so if you already have a free education, we can’t make it more free.

“There is a group of students (that need it). If you’re making $50,000 a year, you’re only getting a $500 TAP award.”

Was the presentation informative? Yes. However, the one subtle thing that wasn’t ignored was the fact that Gowanda was chosen, in comparison to the larger schools to the north and south of the area. Gowanda Superintendent James Klubek believed that there was a reason, but obviously couldn’t say for certain.

“We were one of six schools chosen throughout New York state,” he said. “We are the only one in Western New York that the Governor’s office wanted to come in and do a presentation. Now I don’t know if this is true, but I see it as them recognizing us as a school district on the rise and I think it’s fantastic that we are starting to get some notice around here.”

Email: Akuczkowski@observertoday.com

Twitter: @Kuczkowski95

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