$265K check jump-starts Wor-Wic free tuition plan

A check officially establishing the Wicomico Economic Impact Scholarship has been presented.

The 265,000 dollar check presented Tuesday will allow county students to attend Wor-Wic community college for free.

It was presented to the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, which will manage and distribute the funds.

To qualify for free tuition and fees, students must:

– Be a Wicomico County resident for two years or more

– Completed all high school graduation requirements

– Have annual family income of 75,000 dollars or less.

School officials say in order to receive the scholarship, students must register for 12 credits per semester and maintain a 2.0 GPA.

The program itself was approved by the Wicomico County Council in late June.

Addressing the media and spectators at a press conference on Tuesday, council president John Cannon recalled the many work sessions the council had before reaching their decision. He says one discussion in particular stuck out.

“What do you tell a child who’s in school, in the hallway, when they say “when we graduate, I don’t really see a huge career?” he recalls. “What is there for that child when they’re leaving? That really struck home. I thought, well…if there is an opportunity for Wicomico county to present this child with a continuing education and further their education, that would be a plus.”

First Shore Federal and Avery Hall have collectively pledged 30,000 dollars to the fund.

Seniors this year’s from graduating class have until July 29 to apply.

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