Press Release - Office of the Lt. Governor

Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and the Maryland Higher Education Commission Launch New Veterans of Afganistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program

Due to inclement weather, the press conference scheduled for tomorrow, February 13, 2007 at 10:30 am in the Governor's Reception Room on this program, is cancelled.

Annapolis, MD (February 12, 2007) – The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has launched a new program designed to assist veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts and their families who enroll in undergraduate programs at Maryland colleges and universities.

“Maryland owes its veterans a debt of gratitude for their service in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and these scholarships provide assistance for the higher education that they and their families so rightly deserve,” said Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown. “Governor O'Malley and I are committed to making higher education affordable for all Marylanders. That is why I am so pleased to announce the $500,000 in this year's budget for this program.”

Uniformed Service Members of the United States who served in Afghanistan on or after October 24, 2001 or in Iraq on or after March 19, 2003 may apply for the Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program if they are:

• A veteran or active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces who served at least 60 days in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts, as defined above;
• A member of a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Maryland National Guard who was activated as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts and served at least 60 days, as defined above; or
• A son, daughter, or spouse of a veteran, active duty or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Maryland National Guard, as defined above.

Applicants must be Maryland residents, which includes active members of the U.S. Armed Forces, their spouses and their dependent children who are stationed in the State of Maryland or whose home of residency is Maryland, and be enrolled full-time (12 or more credits per semester) or part-time (6-11 credits per semester) as an undergraduate student at an eligible Maryland institution.

The award amount is equivalent to 50 percent of annual tuition and mandatory fees and room and board and may not exceed $8,850 per academic year. Eligible applicants who are veterans will be given priority over dependent children or spouses, and will be ranked for funding according to application complete date.

Applicants for the scholarship must submit an application, available on the MHEC website www.mhec.state.md.us , and provide all required documents to the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) by March 1, 2007 to be considered for awards beginning in September 2007. Applicants must also file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1. Awards are subject to the availability of funds.

Complete and mail application and required documents by March 1, 2007 to:

Maryland Higher Education Commission
Office of Student Financial Assistance
Attention: Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program
839 Bestgate Road, Suite 400
Annapolis, MD 21401