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Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II joined the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) today to kick off “Reach for the Pie,” a statewide initiative and contest, in partnership with Hungry Howie’s and Michigan Credit Union League, encouraging students and parents to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to lower the cost of college and unlock valuable financial aid opportunities such as the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

The goal of the initiative is to encourage Michigan students to complete the FAFSA to increase access to student aid. By completing the FAFSA, class of 2024 students will be eligible to enter the contest for a chance to win free Hungry Howie’s pizza for a year. The prize will be awarded to 100 randomly selected students. The deadline to enter the contest is June 30, 2024. MiLEAP’s MI Student Aid will post the list of winners on www.reachforthepie.org on or after Aug. 1, 2024.

“Reach for the Pie” comes as the White House and the U.S. Department of Education recently declared April 15-19 the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Week of Action, advocating a concerted effort from all stakeholders at all levels to assist students and families with completing the 2024 FAFSA.

“With FAFSA, students can ‘Reach for the Pie,’ and unlock doors to opportunity,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “They can access critical financial aid like the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which offers up to $27,500 for college. The Achievement Scholarship is a cornerstone of our vision to remove financial barriers and ensure that by 2030, 60% of Michiganders will hold a postsecondary credential. We will keep working hard to pave the way for future leaders.”

The Michigan Achievement Scholarship, established to lower the cost of college and support the state’s educational goals, offers significant financial assistance to eligible high school graduates. This scholarship, along with other state-funded programs such as Michigan Reconnect, Tuition Incentive Program and MI Future Educator programs, aim to increase access to higher education and workforce development.

“There has never been a better time for students to explore financial aid. The new streamlined FAFSA process can open scholarship and grant opportunities like the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, providing all Michiganders an affordable path to college.,” said Michelle Richard, acting director of MiLEAP. “Our goal with ‘Reach for the Pie’ is to not only make students aware of these opportunities but also to incentivize them to take action and complete the FAFSA now so they can enroll in college this fall.”

“Filling out the FAFSA is the gateway to unlocking scholarship opportunities, including the new Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which provides up to $8,250 over three years at a community or tribal college, up to $27,500 over five years at a four-year public college or university or up to $20,000 over five years at a private college or university,” said Diann Cosme, director of MiLEAP’s MI Student Aid. “By participating in this statewide FAFSA initiative, students not only have the chance to win free pizza for a year but also take a significant step toward securing their financial future.”

“Encouraging students and families to complete the FAFSA is not just about accessing federal student aid or grants; it’s about making a smart financial decision,” said Kieran Marion, executive vice president of advocacy for the Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) and the Michigan Credit Union Foundation (MCUF). “This event exemplifies MCUL’s priorities to provide Michiganders with access to pathways for financial growth and stability, and by supporting this FAFSA initiative, MCUL and MCUF are demonstrating their commitment to financial literacy, empowering individuals to make smart financial decisions and advancing the broader goal of promoting financial health and security for all.”

The pizza is provided through a partnership with Hungry Howie’s.

“Our independently owned and operated franchises are deeply rooted in their communities,” said Kevin Dittrich, franchisee owner of Hungry Howie’s in the Lansing area. “We are excited to partner with MiLEAP and MI Student Aid to provide incentive for students to complete their FAFSA and have more opportunities for financial aid.”

Department-of-education , District-of-columbia , United-states , Michigan , White-house , Kieran-marion , Michelle-richard , Diann-cosme , Kevin-dittrich , Michigan-department-of-lifelong-education , Michigan-credit-union-foundation , Tuition-incentive-program

Opinion | Getting free college right in Michigan

Investing in people through affordable and high-quality postsecondary education is one of the best things a state can do, and there are steps to take to make sure free college is successful.

Western-michigan-university , Michigan , United-states , Oregon , Detroit , Tennessee , Michigan-university , Kalamazoo-promise-program , University-of-michigan , Tuition-incentive-program , Kalamazoo-community-college

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

Ferris State University student David Wenzlick testified before a state House of Representatives subcommittee this week, sharing how the Tuition Incentive Program has made it possible for him to get a transformative education.

Wenzlick, a sophomore from Lapeer, joined Dan Eichinger, Ferris State’s vice president for Governmental and External Affairs, in testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and Community Colleges on Thursday, March 7, in Lansing.

TIP is a state program that encourages eligible students to complete high school and continue their education by providing tuition assistance for the first two years of college and beyond.

Wenzlick told lawmakers he never expected to go to college.

“Although I held the desire for higher education and the college experience, it felt like something out of my reach,” he said. “Something that I could never afford. Something with, even help from my parents, I could never afford. Well, without putting myself in financial jeopardy that is. I didn’t want to throw my loans on the people who have been supporting me my whole life. College was a thing I had to do on my own, if I was going to do it.”

He said a high school counselor told him he would be eligible for the program and reduce his college expenses. After taking a year off, he decided to pursue his education, working during summers to cover housing costs – and avoid debt.

“I've been a student at Ferris State University for almost two full years now, and without TIP, none of it would have been possible,” he said. “I've struggled with finding what career path I should take. With TIP, I have been able to take classes that follow my interests rather than what degree I signed my life to. I've been able to study Psychology, Business Marketing, Personal Finance, Human Biology, Philosophy, Creative Writing, Environmental Bio, and Music. I've been able to explore multiple career paths with the security of knowing that my time here was spent enhancing my intellect and deepening my understanding of the world and my place in it. All thanks to TIP.”

Wenzlick said he has thrived at Ferris State, raising his grade point average to a 3.7 after earning a 2.8 in high school – which he said is an indication of his commitment and appreciation for the chance to get a college education. He’s hoping for a career in environmental conservation.

Eichinger told lawmakers Ferris State this year enrolled 1,621 students through the program. Nearly 1,200 are seeing an associate degree and more than 400 are working toward a bachelor’s degree.

He said 44 percent of Ferris State TIP scholars are minorities; 60 percent are female; 69 percent are from outside of the state’s five most populous counties – and 80 percent are in good academic standing.

“Which proves that sometimes all someone needs is an opportunity and that your parent’s income shouldn’t be a proxy college worthiness,” he said.

Eichinger said 3,811 Ferris State TIP students have earned degrees in the last decade.

“In many cases those degrees are the instrument that breaks generational poverty cycles, that degree folder becomes a physical symbol of hope, opportunity, and reward for hard work,” he said. “Serving students, but especially serving first generation students is the core of what we do and keeps us connected to our founder and his vision that accessing education is fundamental to healthy, vibrant, an industrious community.”

State Rep. Nancy DeBoer, R-Holland, said she was inspired by Wenzlick’s testimony.

“I wish you all the best as you continue to use these skills that you are honing, and that you will keep telling your story to inspire other kids so they don’t give up, so they don’t say, ‘That’s the end,’ and don’t say, ‘That’s as far as I can go.’ You can give them hope with your story.”

Nancy-deboer , Dan-eichinger , David-wenzlick , Tuition-incentive-program , Community-colleges-on , Ferris-state-university , Ferris-state , External-affairs , House-appropriations-subcommittee , Higher-education , Community-colleges , Business-marketing

Michigan's free community college plan has state schools worried

Michigan's free community college plan has state schools worried
crainsdetroit.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from crainsdetroit.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.

Michigan , United-states , Tuition-incentive-program , Community-college , Michigan-reconnect , Michigan-achievement-scholarship , Michigan-achievement , Community-college-guarantee ,

Whitmer proposes $80.7B budget for a 'Michigan Guarantee'

Lauren Gibbons

Michigan , United-states , Matt-hall , Community-college , Senate-minority-leader-aric-nesbitt , Tuition-incentive-program , Great-start-readiness-program , Budget-director-jen-flood , Republican-leader-matt-hall , R-richland-township , Democratic-majority-legislature , Michigan-achievement-scholarship

Gov. Whitmer unveils $80.7B FY25 budget recommendations

Governor Gretchen Whitmer presented her Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget Recommendation to a joint session of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees Wednesday in Lansing.

Michigan-state-police , Michigan , United-states , Erie , Southfield , American , Americans , Gretchen-whitmer , Family-independence-program , Economic-development , Workforce-development , Certified-community-behavioral-health-clinics

Gov. Whitmer unveils $80.7 billion FY25 budget recommendations

Governor Gretchen Whitmer presented her Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget Recommendation to a joint session of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees Wednesday in Lansing.

Southfield , Michigan , United-states , Erie , Michigan-state-police , Americans , American , Gretchen-whitmer , Tuition-incentive-program , Cultural-program , Emergency-contingency-fund , Certified-community-behavioral-health-clinics

Gov. Whitmer outlines 2025 Michigan budget proposal

Gov. Whitmer outlines 2025 Michigan budget proposal
wndu.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wndu.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.

United-states , Erie , Michigan , Southfield , Michigan-state-police , Americans , American , Gretchen-whitmer , Michigan-energy-assistance-program , Higher-education-workforce-development , Family-independence-program , Emergency-contingency-fund

Whitmer proposes $80.7B budget for a 'Michigan Guarantee'

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled an $80.7 billion spending proposal for the state’s next budget cycle, calling for a handful of initiatives centered around a 'Michigan Guarantee' of educational access and economic opportunities.

Michigan , United-states , Matt-hall , Tuition-incentive-program , Community-college , Senate-minority-leader-aric-nesbitt , Great-start-readiness-program , Budget-director-jen-flood , Republican-leader-matt-hall , R-richland-township , Democratic-majority-legislature , Michigan-achievement-scholarship

Delaware nursing shortage leads to 'Tuition Incentive Program'

Delaware's 'Tuition Incentive Program' aims to alleviate nurse shortages by offering financial support for CNA training and workforce development.

Stockley-center , Delaware , United-states , Delaware-psychiatric-center , Jersey , Claire-dematteis , Christopher-otto , Delaware-nurses-association , Tuition-incentive-program , Department-of-human-resources , Department-of-health , From-philly