Section A · Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, April 15, 1999
Price of free education high grades, GPA
Continued from page 1A
and graduated in the top of her class.
Richard BachmarvKAHSAN
"A lot of people are deserving," she said. "I'm one of many who have worked really hard and are deserving of scholarship money."
vizcarra's package is renewable for four years, although she doesn't feel pressured to finish that soon. She'll be able to afford a fifth year.
Gittchel said that during his first two years at the University, he didn't have to worry about finding a job to cover additional expenses, because he was receiving nearly $1,000 extra each semester.
"I really didn't have to worry about money at all," he said.
Whenever he got the urge to buy a new CD, he would. As a participant in the ROTC program, Chamberlain receives a $150 housing stipend each month. However, his scholarships cover housing expenses, so he spends the ROTC money on whatever he wants.
"I buy CDs and books, go out to dinner," Chamberlain said. "I'm just wasting the money."
Even with the monthly stipend, Chamberlain works a part-time job at an athletic club for extra money.
"I could live very comfortably without working," he said. "My spending habits dictate that any extra money I have, I'll spend."
Cerveny said that there was a lot of competition between universities to attract top academic performers, and those recruits often selected their universities based on the quality of package they were offered.
Unlike athletic coaches, admissions recruiters don't have a starting position or jersey to offer high school academic standouts. Instead, universities wave dollar bills to bring all-star students to the campus.
"It's less intense than athletic recruitment, but recruiting definitely takes place." Chamberlain said.
As soon as the National Merit Scholar program allowed universities to contact finalists, Chamberlain said his mail started piling up and his phone started rining.
He said that every few weeks the University would call him and inquire about how things were progressing.
The University of Kansas was not the only school trying to recruit Chamberlain. Several other Big XII Schools, including Kansas State and Oklahoma State, the University of California-Los Angeles and George Washington University were offering big scholarships
"Universities are in competition with one another for good students," he said.
Some universities are better competitors than others. Cerveny said that although the University of Kansas valued National Merit scholars, the University does not offer the most complete scholarship package to potential students. For National Merit Scholars, the University pays the tuition and student fees and housing costs, if students live in a scholarship hall.
Chamberlain said that officials at Oklahoma State, the Big XII School that has the largest number of National Merit Scholars, made it obvious that he would be treated as a premier student. Officials let him know that they would open classes that were closed and would help him take care of any roommate or housing issues.
issues.
Vizcarra said that the merit-based scholarships that officials promised her were the determining factor in choosing to attend the University of Kansas.
All these top scholars can thank Chancellor Robert Hemenway for their lifestyles. When Hemenway arrived at the University in 1995, he made it a goal to increase the number of National Merit Scholars enrolled at the University.
Cerveny said that attracting National Merit Scholars was now a recruiting priority.
The University has increased the package National Merit Scholars receive and also has reorganized the
recruiting process so that scholarships are now handled by the admissions office.
The total amount of scholarship money available also has increased. In 1995 the Kansas University Endowment Association provided $8.9 million in total scholarship support, and in 1998, if gave $12 million.
"The University has made scholarship money a top priority, and the Endowment Association has put a lot of time and energy into being able to provide it," said John Scarfe, director of communications at the Endowment Association.
The University has set millions aside to award merit-based scholarships, and applicants don't have to show financial need, Cerveny said.
Searcff said that, of the total scholarship support donated by the Endowment Association, 70 percent went toward awarding merit scholarships, and the remainder went to merit plus need-based awards.
in fairness, we need, so we need,
"We do allow stacking of scholarships, so there is no limit to the amount of merit-based scholarships a student can receive from the University," he said.
Cerveny said that although some students, such as Vizcarra, did receive scholarship money that exceeded University tuition and living costs, the number was low compared to scholarship students who did not.
"There are a lot of students receiving scholarships that still have to work to help pay for school," he said.
There is a dark side to being a brain recruit. Unlike sports scholarships that are the same whether you start or ride the bench, fail to measure up on a merit
schol- arship and you're out the door. Scholarship students are required to maintain above-average grades and go through an academic review process before scholarships are renewed.Cerveny said.
Gitchek knows this only too well. He slipped just below the 3.5 minimum grade point average and lost his scholarships. He now has worry about repaying student loans after he walks down the Hill to receive his diploma.
He said that although he thought about moving into nicer living accommodations when he was receiving his scholarships, he didn't because he was uncertain of the future.
"I was never absolutely certain I'd be getting my scholarships the next year," he said.
Nintendo ship it now! "It was nice while it all lasted." But, he said, "it was nice while it all lasted."
Scholarship award money taxable
Students cashing in on scholarship money should be reporting their awards to the government.
Michelle Kessler, associate director and attorney for Legal Services for Students, said that any monetary award that exceeded a student's tuition, books and required fees must be claimed as income on the individual's tax return.
That means money designated as housing stipends must also be claimed.
superiors insist that we have a line to put scholarships in, so they just need to be added into their wages," Kessler said.
If the Internal Revenue Service knows that a student is receiving scholarships in excess of
tuition, books and fees, it will contact the student with either an amount they need to pay, or it will have the student refuge his or her taxes to determine the amount of money needed to pay as taxes on the awards.
"Most students know that there may be some consequences if the awards are not reported," she said.
Kessler said that on most scholarship refund checks issued by the University, there was a statement on the stub that stated that the money could be taxable.
International students receiving scholarships also are required to report their awards to the IRS. If they fail to do so, they face consequences similar to U.S. students.
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