Edwards unveils $8 billion college scholarship program

[waiting for hope]

The Associated Press
SNOW HILL, N.C.
Published on Friday, May 11, 2007

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards proposed an $8 billion college scholarship program Friday that would pay first-year bills for nearly every college student in the nation.

Funneling money by eliminating bank subsidies and tapping windfall profit taxes, Edwards said high school students across the country could benefit from an idea he has been testing at a high school in this impoverished rural community since 2005.

Edwards returned Friday to Greene Central High School to announce that 74 percent of its graduating seniors will attend college this fall using hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships. When he began offering the privately-funded "College For Everyone" program, just 54 percent of the 2005 graduates had enrolled in college.

~Snip~

On Friday, Edwards blasted the Bush administration for leaving poor communities without a recourse for success.

"Their policies favor people with high levels of capital and high levels of education," Edwards said. "They've taken away some of the tools that are necessary to bridge the economic gap that exists in America. For example, they've taken billions of dollars out of financial aid. That's insane."

Edwards said "College for Everyone" will be available to all students, even those from wealthy families.

Chikera Shackelford, 17, a Greene Central senior who plans to attend Winston-Salem State University in the fall, said "College for Everyone" has improved the culture of the high school.

"Some students have felt like they couldn't go to college because they didn't know how to pay for it," Shackelford said. "The fact that Sen. Edwards has provided this chance for us has done just such a tremendous favor for our futures."

~Snip~

http://www.fayobserver.com/article_ap?id=105099

Edwards is serious about making this country stronger, from the inside out. He inspires, gives hope and is platforming on what really ails this country, from Iraq to Poverty. This is the candidate I want as my President - I'm tired of all the hype and spin. This country needs someone who can bring us all together with dignity.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[w4rma]

1. I'd support Edwards just for this issue alone. (nt)

[waiting for hope]

2. I think it's a great idea...

Haven't heard anything else like it and it's working in Snow Hill. He had my vote in 04 and he's got it now.

[lonestarnot]

3. Excefuckinglent!

[earth mom]

4. Can you hear the freeper heads exploding over this one?

:evilgrin:

[SaveAmerica]

5. John Edwards = One America

[Sapphire Blue]

6. K&R; he started this a year ago w/$300,000 in scholarships @ a NC school... College for Everyone

Edwards gives out $300,000 in scholarships at rural N.C. school
Mike Baker
Associated Press
May 19, 2006

SNOW HILL, N.C.

Former vice presidential candidate John Edwards honored a promise Friday he made at the beginning of the school year, handing out $300,000 in scholarships to pay for the first year of college for more than 100 students at a rural high school in eastern North Carolina.

(snip)

In Greene County, an impoverished community 60 miles southeast of Raleigh, 70 percent of students receive free or reduced lunch, and an average graduating class in years past sent just a quarter of its students to college.

(snip)

This year, 80 percent of Greene Central roughly 140 seniors have applied to a post-secondary school, and 70 percent have been accepted, something that officials consider remarkable improvement _ and something they couldn't have done without Edwards' incentive.

"College for Everyone has come along with the final piece to make it happen for these students, because most of these students wouldn't have gone to college without help," said Steve Mazingo, superintendent of Greene County Schools.

(snip)

Since his failed bid two years ago as the running mate of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, Edwards has traveled the nation advocating programs to relieve poverty while considering another run at the executive office. Edwards originally designed the "College For Everyone" program as a government initiative, but settled on establishing the Greene County project as a prototype for future efforts.

(snip)

"This is a model of what we could and should be doing for the whole country," Edwards said.


http://johnedwards.com/news/headlines/ap20060519 /

College for Everyone

College for Everyone
An Opportunity...

We are extremely pleased to have a program for seniors at Greene Central High School who are willing to take responsibility for their education and their community. The program - College for Everyone - is the vision of former Senator John Edwards.
Under this program, the cost of in-state tuition, fees and books for the first year of college is paid by scholarships for students who meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

More info @ http://www.gcsedu.org/site_res_view_template.aspx?id=ce9d42d6-b565-4855-b851-2374be15c2d0

Transformational Change For America And The World - JOHN EDWARDS for PRESIDENT 2008

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

"I'm proposing we set a national goal of eliminating poverty in the next 30 years." - JOHN EDWARDS 08

Silence is Betrayal - JOHN EDWARDS 08

Ending Poverty in America

[waiting for hope]

7. Thanks for the background SB!!

You have the best researched stuff...:hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

18. You're welcome, WFH!

:hi: :hug: We have the best candidate!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[illinoisprogressive]

8. and how is he paying for his expensive programs. I'm sorry but,

this guy is acting like Bush has not been spending us into the ground. we are in hock to china up to our eyeballs and Edwards wants to spend and spend and spend when there is no money.
it's irresponsible.
I am sorry but, after the past six years I just cannot take more money being spent like it's water.

[waiting for hope]

9. Sheesh....

Read the Article:

"Extending the program nationwide would cost about $8 billion, Edwards said. Eliminating bank subsidies for student loans would free up about $5 billion, while another $3 billion could come from various sources, including windfall profit taxes for oil companies or a restructuring of capital gains taxes."

[bobbolink]

14. Did you read the response--#9?

You might want to acknowledge it.

[w4rma]

22. You might want to acknowledge waiting for hope's response. (nt)

[AzDar]

10. President Edwards, what a fine idea.

[SoCalDem]

11. Every child who graduates with a "B" average should get to go to college

2 years FREE.. Let's face it. high school used to be enough for a family-supporting job. Now it isn;t. Times changed, so should public education.

2 years of college free, and if the student has a "B" average at the end of 2, they get the final 2 at half price..."A" average..the last two are free..

We NEED brainy people with good educations..

Middle class families can no longer afford to send their kids without sacrificing their entire family worth.

Colleges around here RECRUIT for foreign students because they can get "big bucks", and local kids cannot even get IN..

That's gotta stop. The foreign student spots should be the ones NOT filled by local kids.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

12. Now if they just had jobs for us overeducated folks.

College is great, but where are the jobs? I know with grade inflation you gotta have a BA to get your foot in the door, but the job market is a cruel joke if you're over 40. I spent 12 years earning 3 degrees and I slid out of the middle class in the 90s.


Lots of us in the same boat -- fabulous educations, plenty of skills and experience and now we're too expensive. Can't get anything but grunt jobs that kill you.

[SoCalDem]

13. At least this might prevent a lot of young 20-somethings

from stopping the learning..and jumping into early ill-advised marriages.. and it might also "oddly enough", free up jobs for other people.

A "shortage" of desperate youngsters, might mean that wages could increase.

Kids who don;t need to grovel away at 2-3 jobs while trying to go to classes, might learn more too:)

[bobbolink]

15. Or, we could cancel the damned tax cuts, and EVERYONE can go free!

Plus singlepayer health care!

Plus, actually HOUSING homeless people, rather than warehousing them.

What a concept!

[w4rma]

16. …

:kick:

[w4rma]

19. …

:kick:

[w4rma]

17. …

:kick:

[waiting for hope]

20. Thank you w4rma...

He is the best candidate!

[w4rma]

21. It is my pleasure!

I agree! He is the best candidate!