THE CNMI Scholarship Office continues to be swamped with applicants seeking government subsidies to finance their college education.
Acting Scholarship Administrator and Counselor Meliza Guajardo said the number of applicants for the incoming school year is higher than the previous year, but she refused to disclose the figure because the deadline for submission of applications is still a month away.
Guajardo attributed the rise in the number of scholarship applicants to the economic slump and an increase in population.
In school year 2001-2002, 908 students received scholarship benefits.
Guajardo said during this period, at least 48 students took their master’s degrees with government financial assistance.
Some 82 received teachers scholarship benefits. Eleven pursued law or medical education while the rest enrolled in various undergraduate programs overseas or at Northern Marianas College.
The teacher scholarship program is given to students wanting to pursue education-related courses. Each scholar under this program is entitled to receive at least $15,000 per academic year from the CNMI government.
Under Public Law 7-32, at least eight students who graduate on top of their class can receive full scholarship benefits.
All other CNMI students seeking financial aid for their education can apply through the Education Assistance Program.
“This is only a supplemental aid to help them defray their costs,” Guajardo said.
Last school year, each recipient of EAP enrolled in undergraduate courses was given $4,000 per academic year.
Each of those who took their master’s degrees under EAP were given $6,000 per academic year while law and medical students each got $8,000 per academic year.
Guajardo said the subsidy given to CNMI college students vary every year depending on the number of applicants who will be granted financial aid as well as budget appropriations from the government.
