For the City-Times

The State of Wisconsin’s Higher Educational Aids Board recent Technical Excellence Scholarship announcement presents Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) students with a new way of paying for college.

Beginning in 2015, Technical Excellence Scholarships are to be awarded to Wisconsin high school seniors who have the highest demonstrated level of proficiency in technical education subjects.  These scholarships can be used at any technical college within the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS).

Scholarships will be applied toward tuition–up to $2,250 per year.  Scholarships will not exceed six semesters or a total of three years.  Scholarship recipients must be enrolled full-time in a technical college to be eligible to receive the scholarship funds.

This new scholarship opportunity is a partnership, with half of the scholarship being funded by the state and the other half by the technical college.  The MSTC Foundation is providing the matching funds for Technical Excellence Scholarship recipients who attend MSTC.

Students wishing to be considered for this scholarship will need to meet eligibility criteria set by the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB).  Scholarship nominees are selected by each high school district board, or the governing body of a private high school or tribal high school, by February 25 of each year.  The first set of Technical Education Scholarships will be awarded for the 2015-2016 academic year.  The number of scholarships each high school is eligible for is based on total student enrollment.

Individuals who are interested in learning more about the scholarship are encouraged to visit http://heab.wi.gov or contact Nancy Wilkison at 608-267-2213.

MSTC, one of 16 colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College System, provides its students with more than 100 associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates.  The college is accepting applications now for a large number of academic programs that start during Spring Semester, meaning that prospective students do not have to wait until fall to kick off their college education.  MSTC’s Spring Semester begins January 12 and concludes May 13.

MSTC serves a resident population of approximately 165,000 in central Wisconsin with campuses in Marshfield, Stevens Point, and Wisconsin Rapids, and a learning center in Adams.  Nearly 9 in 10 MSTC graduates are employed within six months of graduation.  Individuals who are interested in any MSTC course, certificate, or program are encouraged to go to www.mstc.edu, call 1.888.575.MSTC, or visit the campus office of the MSTC location nearest you.