Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Give away money


To give away money is a good thing. Just ask those who gave and those who received college scholarships at the Wood River High School awards ceremony.

Forty families, individuals and businesses handed out $170,000 in scholarships. Everyone went home feeling good.

It was a far cry from 1988—the year this newspaper began to award scholarships—when just $9,200 was awarded by just 11 organizations to graduates of Wood River High School.

The most inspirational scholarship this year was the First Generation Scholarship--$7,550 divided between two students who will be the first in their families to attend college.

The scholarship's story brought a tear to many eyes. Senior Hayley Stommel raised all the money for the scholarship as her senior project. It was a tremendous effort with great results.

Her example should inspire others. She made us wonder if the valley could do even better next year and increase local scholarship funds beyond the $200,000 mark.

The price of education is $12,127 a year on average at a public college, with private colleges often exceeding $40,000, according to the College Board. As costs have risen, it has become difficult for families of ordinary means to finance the education of the next generation.

Local college or technical-training scholarships provide impetus and recognition for students and their families. They're a great investment in the future, with the potential for unimaginable dividends for the nation. They don't have to be enormous to inspire.

Groups and individuals should look to next year and try to beat the mark for the next Class of 2007.

So, how about it Wood River Valley? Let's break the $200,000 mark.




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