Dr. David Dees, dean of the Kent State Columbiana County campuses, and John Tonti, president of the Salem Community Foundation, recently announced that the Salem Community Foundation Tuition Grant Program is now available to Kent State Salem students living within the Salem City, West Branch, South Range, United and Leetonia Village school districts.
Additionally, the maximum award is up to 20 percent of in-state tuition costs for classes at Kent State Salem. This amount is an increase from the previous 15 percent maximum grant.
“This is the 20th anniversary of the Salem Community Foundation Tuition Grant Program and, to celebrate this milestone, we decided to make changes that will benefit students from our local community,” Tonti noted. “By increasing the amount of the grants, and extending our reach into five local school districts, we will impact the lives of more students in positive ways.”
Each applicant must be a permanent resident of an applicable school district for at least one year; be pursuing an associate or a first bachelor degree; and attend Kent State Salem. This program is for the fall and spring semesters only.
There is no minimum GPA requirement for new freshmen students, but current Kent State Salem students and transfer students must have a 2.00 cumulative GPA. Early admission students are not eligible for this grant. The maximum award is up to 20 percent of needed in-state tuition costs for classes at Kent State Salem.
Applications for the 2018 fall semester are available online at https://www.kent.edu/columbiana/salem-community-foundation-tuition-grant.
A public non-profit trust, the Salem Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Salem and the immediate area. In the 2017-18 academic year, the Salem Community Foundation awarded $56,780 in scholarship grants. Also in 2017, the Salem Community Foundation awarded $61,000 to Kent State Salem for the creation of a virtual reality classroom.
In total during 2017, the Foundation disbursed more than $1.5 million in funds to the community for education, scholarships, social services, community projects and other charitable activities.
Dees acknowledged the Salem Community Foundation’s awareness of the needs of area students. “By extending this scholarship opportunity to include students from five local school districts, and by increasing the grant amount to 20 percent of the in-state needed tuition, the Salem Community Foundation recognizes the importance of making higher education accessible to all,” he said. “Together, we are helping make it possible for individuals to find their purpose and to discover their potential.”
For more information about the Salem Community Foundation Tuition Grant application, visit the Kent State Salem’s website at https://www.kent.edu/columbiana/salem-community-foundation-tuition-grant, call 330-332-0361; or call the Salem Community Foundation at 330-332-4021.
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PHOTO: Meeting to discuss the updates to the Salem Community Foundation Tuition Grant Program were (from left) Melissa Costa, grants coordinator for the Salem Community Foundation; Dr. David Dees, dean of the Kent State Columbiana County campuses; and John Tonti, president of the Salem Community Foundation.