WAVE 3 News Guest Editorial - March 13, 2014: March Madness

By H. Keith Spears, Ed.D.
VP for Graduate and Professional Studies
Campbellsville University

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Our colleges and universities are immersed in March Madness. Tens of thousands of students, faculty, coaches and families are caught up in the frenzy. But the March Madness to which I refer is not on the basketball court, rather it is the race to capture money.

Since New Year's, Kentucky college students have scrambled to complete forms, apply and hope for money for next year's college expenses. Only there is a problem. For the past several years, our state scholarship dollars dry up as early as March, maybe February, before many deserving students even apply. There are not enough funds in needs-based support programs that change lives.

Full disclosure, I work at Campbellsville University, but this issue goes beyond any single college. Our state leadership is commended for its education priorities, but they need to hear from you. Let's not forget college students. Fully fund our needs-based scholarship programs. Otherwise a future basketball March Madness may have a lot fewer students cheering in the stands.

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