Whitmer visits Bay Co, holds roundtable on scholarships

BAY CO., Mich. (WNEM) - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer paid a visit to mid-Michigan on Monday to talk about a scholarship for students.

Whitmer held a roundtable discussion on Monday at Bay-Arenac ISD Conference Center in Bay City.

In the meeting, Whitmer got to hear from students and educators first-hand on how the Michigan Achievement Scholarship will help high schoolers pursue higher education.

Whitmer signed the scholarship into law in 2022, saving students up to $8,250 on their associate degree at a community college, up to $20,000 at a private college, or up to $27,500 at a public university. Whitmer said it’s important to make sure that students are aware of these opportunities.

The law was passed to help move the state closer to the 60-by-30 goal, which is the goal to have 60 percent of adults with a skill certificate or college degree by 2030.

“We had an opportunity to chat with a lot of the stakeholders in the community and students,” Whitmer said. “It’s really invigorating. There’s so much good stuff happening all across our state but as you talk to young people, making sure they know about the opportunities, filling out the FAFSA, getting the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, knocking off tens of thousands off of an education beyond high school. That opens up doors for people creates opportunity.”

The scholarships are renewable for up to three years at a community college and up to five years at a private college or public university. Whitmer said they are working to make more opportunities available for people who have graduated already.

“The Michigan Achievement Scholarship goes into effect for the class of 2023. So, this is going to make college or community college a lot more affordable,” Whitmer said. “But as we think about opening up those doors for older Michiganders, dropping the age from 25 to 21 for the Michigan Reconnect is a way that we can create more opportunities tuition free for people 21 and up to go back to school and hone their skills and be able to get good paying jobs.”

The scholarship is available for undergraduate students who graduate from high school in Michigan with a diploma or equivalent in 2023 or after.

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