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HURST — Freshman Tyler Beaubien was going to Tarrant County College whether he received financial assistance or not.
But Beaubien, 18, of Grapevine, was ecstatic when he found out in early October that he qualified for one of TCC’s Stars of Tomorrow scholarships, which would pay his tuition."This was huge," said Beaubien, a student at the Northeast Campus, in Hurst. "It would have been very tight. We would have put our heads together and found a way to pay for my tuition, but this has made a big difference."For Beaubien, a Carroll Senior High graduate, that meant $800 this semester, enough to cover his tuition plus $150 for textbooks. He also received a $300 gift card for textbooks.He is one of the students who qualified when TCC expanded the income thresholds for a family of four from $57,000 to $77,000. Many of the families’ incomes were too high for federal or state aid but low enough that tuition was still a burden."What we ended up with is actually very few scholarships," interim Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley said. "If you qualify for financial aid that is what you get first. Our scholarship picks up after financial aid has been exhausted."A big helpRecipients must graduate in the top half of their class, live in Tarrant County and attend an orientation class."Before income thresholds were increased, we had 43 students eligible for funding," said David Ximenez, district director of financial aid. "After the income thresholds were increased, we have gone up to at least 174 students."Ximenez projects that 225 students could be eligible, still a relatively small number that TCC officials hope will grow in coming years.Beaubien’s father, Cliff Beaubien, who was injured several years ago and can’t work, said the scholarship will help. His wife works, and he collects a disability check."Times are tough," Cliff Beaubien said. "It’s going to help us out immensely."Tyler Beaubien plans to attend TCC again next year and hopes to transfer then to the University of North Texas in Denton and major in business.Expanding the programStars of Tomorrow was created last year using natural gas royalties and corporate donations. As of Sept. 30, the fund had more than $14 million. Scholarships are funded from the interest of the endowment.TCC officials hope to expand the fund someday to cover all Tarrant County high school graduates, said Bill Lace, interim vice chancellor for administrative and community services. Whether that happens depends on natural gas prices and how quickly the fund grows. But the program could be expanded to reach all high school graduates who meet the income threshold regardless of whether they finish in the top half of their class."If we do open it up to all high school graduates, there would still be some element of merit, perhaps a bridge program they have to successfully complete, possibly in the summer," Lace said.About 16,000 of TCC’s 44,355 students receive financial aid. Of those, about 13,700 receive federal aid, and the remainder receive TCC assistance.
Stars of Tomorrow Public and private high school graduates who finish in the top half of their class are eligible. To continue receiving the scholarship, students must pass two-thirds of all semester hours and maintain a 2.25 grade-point average. Students must also complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and attend an orientation and advisement session. The priority deadline for the spring semester was Nov. 1, but applications will still be processed. The deadline for summer sessions is April 15. Information: 817-515-8223 or www.tccd.edu/Student_Services/Financial_Aid/Stars_of_Tomorrow/Requirements.html
Before income thresholds were increased, we had 43 students eligible for funding. After . . . , we have gone up to at least 174 students."
David Ximenez,financial aid director
BILL HANNA, 817-390-7698
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