HOPE Scholarship Lowers Required GPA to 2.0

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     In an effort to make more technical college students eligible for HOPE scholarship, a bill was passed that would lower the required grade point averages for the scholarship. House bill 372, which had the approval of Gov. Nathan Deal, will change the eligibility to a 2.0 grade point average.  The HOPE scholarship changes were ratified by House Lawmakers, it passed by 169-1 vote applause.

    “I am excited about the changing in the GPA for the HOPE scholarship, I feel as though I’m now more qualified for it now,” said senior Jasmine Garrett.

     Since the GPA will be lowered from the current rule of 3.0, even more technical college students would be qualified for the HOPE Grant. The Grant is part of the state’s scholarship program, also known as HOPE, that’s funded by Georgia lottery.

    “In 2011, after we added the 3.0 GPA requirement for the first time, our technical colleges started losing students at a very rapid pace. We felt as though this change was more than necessary,” said REP Stacey Evans.

By Alexis Bohannon