Tobacco Scholarship Applications Being Accepted for 2008-2009 Academic Year

Source from:  timesnews.net 06/15/2008 By Staff 06/16/2008

The Southwest Virginia Burley Tobacco Scholarship Program is now taking applications for the 2008-2009 academic year. Awards from this program are designed to assist with tuition and academic fees for the fall 2008, spring 2009 and summer 2009 semesters. In order to receive assistance from this program, an applicant must have a permanent residence in one of 14 Southwest Virginia counties - Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe - and be a direct descendant (self, spouse, child, grandchild, adopted/step children, etc.) of a former quota holder or producer who participated in the production of burley tobacco during the indemnification years, 1998-2004. Documentation must be provided to show ownership/production as well as the relationship of the applicant to the quota holder or producer. Applicants must be a current resident of Virginia, having lived in the state for a minimum of 12 months, and be a U.S. national or permanent legal resident of the United States. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited four-year college or university, seeking either a bachelor's degree or a master's degree. Those attending Southwest Virginia Community College, Mountain Empire Community College or Virginia Highlands Community College should contact the financial aid office to determine availability of assistance from the Tobacco Commission. Applicants enrolled in doctoral degree program, teacher recertification or professional development are not eligible for assistance through this program. To qualify for a scholarship, new applicants to the four-year college or university program are required to submit a 156EZ from the Farm Service Agency office in the county where the quota is held; a notarized statement defining the applicant's relationship to the quota holder, grower or worker; an information release form (IRF); and their official transcript. Renewal applicants of the four-year college or university program need only submit an official transcript and an IRF. All applicants are required to submit an official transcript from the last school attended, and an IRF must be submitted if the applicant wants information regarding his or her account to be shared with anyone other than the college or university. The Southwest Burley Tobacco Scholarship pays a $2,000 maximum award for undergraduate students enrolled in a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester or graduate students enrolled in a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester. There is a $1,500 maximum award for undergraduate students enrolled in less than 15 credit hours per semester or graduate students enrolled in less than 9 credit hours per semester. Scholarship funds are provided by the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center administers the $1 million Southwest Virginia Burley Tobacco Scholarship Program on behalf of the Virginia Tobacco Commission. The application and criteria for the scholarship are available at the Tobacco Commission Web site, www.tic.virginia.gov. Questions should be directed to Pat Ball, tobacco scholarships assistant, at (276) 619-4378 or via e-mail at tobacco@swcenter.edu. Enditem