March 1, 2001

Contact: Robert Lowery (509-963-1487/fax 509-963-2301/ email loweryr@cwu.edu)

High achieving high school seniors may see their scholastic accomplishments pay off –- in real dollars –- if they attend Central Washington University. The university's board of trustees has approved a plan to provide additional monetary awards to such students.

"The idea is to recognize academically talented students," Dr. James Pappas, CWU vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, says.

A total of $750,000 has been earmarked for the "Dean's Distinction" and "Trustees Award" scholarships for incoming freshmen enrolling for fall quarter 2001 or 2002. "Dean's Distinction" scholarships are for students with 3.5 to 3.89 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point averages (GPAs) and would be worth $1,500 toward university tuition. The $1,800 "Trustees Awards" would be for students with GPAs of 3.9 to 4.0.

In addition, another $150,000 will be available to students with strong academic credentials who have "special talents," Pappas adds.

"Those talents could be in areas such as the performing arts, volunteerism – such as with the Washington Service Corps – or leadership potential," he notes. "These awards will also be available to transfer students."

To be eligible for any of these scholarships, students must apply to CWU and complete the U.S. Department of Education Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information about the new scholarship programs, call (509) 963-1211, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-3323.