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Contact: Jennifer Anderson (andersonj@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
12/6/2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES- Student Support Services at Northwestern State University is easing the burden of financing education for some of their students with the help of a $40,018 supplemental grant from the U.S. Department of Education's TRIO Programs.
"This is the first time we have ever been permitted to award direct grants to students," said Don Barker, director of SSS.
The new direct grants program is for selected first and second year students who are participants in the student support services program, are eligible for Pell grants through the office of financial aid and have 60 hours or less of credit.
"The grants will be awarded in an effort to reduce the amount of loans being taken out through financial aid," said Steven Gruesbeck, a counselor in Student Support Services.
The grants will be awarded in time to be included in the students' financial aid packages in the upcoming spring semester.
The student support services office identified approximately 80 students on the Natchitoches campus and 25 students on the Shreveport campus who were eligible. The recipients will be chosen based on an interview and financial need.
According to Shawanda Woods, a counselor in SSS, the interview process is much like interviews students will experience when looking for employment upon graduation.
"Three counselors are leading the interviews with the idea of giving first-hand experience in interviewing," said Woods. "They must be professionally dressed, and will answer a range of questions to determine their need of financial support."
Recipients will be required to meet with Student Support Service counselors on a regular basis, and participate in the service's programs including workshops, cultural enrichments programs, tutoring, and use the computer labs.