Former Sen. Edwards Offers Free College Tuition To Some Students

[Lex]

Former Sen. Edwards Offers Free Tuition To Some Students

POSTED: 3:57 pm EDT September 28, 2005
UPDATED: 3:57 pm EDT September 28, 2005

SNOW HILL, N.C. -- Former Sen. John Edwards promised 140 seniors in one of the state's poorest counties that they could get free college tuition and books through a new program that will require them to work while taking college prep courses.

Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential candidate in 2004, proposed a similar program during the campaign that would have given a free college education to those who performed two years of public service.

He introduced his latest initiative Wednesday to the senior class of Greene Central High School, along with some parents, the school band and administrators.

Donations from individuals, companies and charitable foundations will pay the bill, said Edwards, who now runs a poverty center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He declined to say if he would spend any of his private fortune built during his career as a trial lawyer.

"This was an idea that I thought could have a real impact in lifting families out of poverty," Edwards told reporters after the program.

He said he chose Greene County, about 60 miles southeast of Raleigh, because he believes talented students there were missing out on college because of costs and other barriers.

The proposal would allow students to attend Edwards' alma mater, North Carolina State University, as well as East Carolina, Fayetteville State and North Carolina A&T universities and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. They could also go to two nearby community colleges.

To be eligible, students will have to enroll full time in college the fall semester after high-school graduation, spend at least 10 hours a week in a job, work-study program or community service program during their first year and not be expelled or suspended for a long period of time from high school.

Curtis Wright, 17, said Wednesday he planned to take up Edwards on the offer, but acknowledged mixing work and college prep courses would be difficult.

"My mama is going to make me (go)," Wright said.

http://www.wral.com/news/5031364/detail.html

[Horse with no Name]

1. He just keeps getting better and better

I'm really starting to heart this guy.

[Flying Dream Blues]

2. Yep, I do think he's the real deal. nt

[Lex]

3. I think he's the real deal too.

He knows that education is the one thing that can really be a hand up for many families.

And he's making it happen!

[Mass]

4. Nice idea

Too bad that Kerry has not been elected. Public service vs free college was part of his program and we would not need to ask for rich people to pay for it.

Education should be a right, another thing the Repubs do not understand.

[earth mom]

5. Bravo for Edwards!

:applause:

[Catchawave]

6. Go Johnny Go !

He's also working with putting Raise Minimum Wage initiatives on the 2006 ballots in some states, details here:

http://www.oneamericacommittee.com/minimumwage/

Which would certainly get more working class people (and hopefully democrats) to the polls !

[Lex]

7. That's excellent.

:thumbsup: