UGA Students Try to Save the HOPE Scholarship

       It's no secret that the HOPE scholarship is in danger.  Georgia is running out of money, and the number of scholarships able to be handed out is shrinking. The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) reported that, with rising tuitions, they've had to pull money directly from reserves to finance the program. By the end of the 2013-2014 school year, the year we graduate, the reserves will have dwindled down to their minimum required amount, essentially eliminating our safety net.  It is projected that by the 2015-2016 school year, the HOPE scholarship will pay less than half of tuition and steadily continue to get smaller and smaller each year.
Students at UGA have decided to take matters into their own hands.  They understand how important these scholarships are to students in Georgia and want to make sure future students are able to receive the same benefits.
       Basically, there are three different resolutions that are going to be debated.  The first, and most popular, is to support the creation of Video Lottery Terminals for public use.  Dan O'Leary, the developer who is planning the entertainment complex, projects that the Video Terminals would raise $350 million dollars a year for HOPE Scholarships. However, governor Nathan Deal has repeatedly made clear that Video Lottery Terminals are too similar to casino-style machines, and feels that they wouldn't be good for the state.  Secondly, the students want to ensure that requirements for receiving HOPE will not change, including SAT scores and G.P.A.  And finally, an additional idea students have begun to advocate is a HOPE reimbursement plan.  The first year of college, students would not receive HOPE scholarship money. However, if by the end of the year, they have kept up their grades and still meet the requirements, they will be reimbursed that year's tuition.  Although this may sound crazy to some, it's actually a good idea.  Studies show that a majority of students lose the HOPE scholarship within their first year of college.  This system would help filter out the students who truly deserve HOPE. 
       None of these ideas are guaranteed to be put into place.  After voting, student leaders at UGA plan to take their ideas to the state capitol and convince legislators that some sort of action needs to take place.  It's clear that these students are passionate about what they're doing.  Hopefully, the state will agree with them.  However, even if legislators don't decide to pass any of UGA's proposed plans, it's imperative that something be done.  Otherwise, the future looks bleak for students.
Will HOPE survive?

http://www.11alive.com/news/article/260779/40/Students-coming-up-with-their-own-plan-to-save-HOPE-scholarships
http://www.11alive.com/news/article/221769/454/Georgias-HOPE-scholarship-program-sinking-fast