(July 14, 2017) — In a move aimed at helping local students seeking post-secondary education and training, the Board of Directors of the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) discussed the feasibility of increasing the amount of the scholarship available to all graduates and GED recipients within EMCID boundaries from $1,000 to $1,600. The action positions the East Montgomery County Scholarship Foundation (EMCSF) to provide the larger scholarship. Currently, a majority of the Foundation’s funds come from yearly contributions by EMCID. The EMCSF is a non-profit charitable subsidiary of EMCID.
“We want all students in East Montgomery County to be able to pursue higher education — whether it’s at a two or four year college, a trade school or certification program — to better themselves and the community,” said Frank McCrady, EMCID President/CEO. “The $1,600 in scholarship money for tuition would allow, for example, a student to attend full-time classes for a full year at Lone Star College, which equates to 24 credit hours.”
Funds may be used at a two- or four-year college, trade school or toward a certification program.
At the June 20 Board of Directors meeting, members approved a 2018 fiscal year budget that increased contributions to the EMCSF from $600,000 the previous year to $705,000.
“It is a privilege to work with a board and staff who understand the importance of an educated workforce in our community,” said Dale Martin, who is Vice Chairman of the Board and an educator in the Splendora ISD.
The EMCSF will hold its quarterly meeting July 20 to adopt the $1,600 scholarship. The new amount would be available to the graduates of 2018.
Currently the EMCSF, with contributions from EMCID and area developers and businesses, make available $1,000 scholarships to each graduate of New Caney and Splendora school districts, graduates of private schools or home schooling programs who reside within EMCID boundaries, and GED recipients who reside within the boundaries. Also available are paid internships for high school seniors and a $500 merit-based scholarships available to college students who received previous scholarship funding from the EMCSF.
