Five students from Howard Payne University visited Austin on Tuesday, February 8, for Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) Student Advocacy Day at the Capitol. Several private universities in the West Texas region, including HPU, traveled to the state capital to encourage representatives and senators to continue support for TEG program.
The HPU students met with legislators and staff from their home districts to thank them for appropriating funds to the program, which assists with tuition for college. While at the Capitol, they listened to both the House and Senate sessions and met with Texas State Representative Jim Keffer and Texas State Senator Troy Fraser.
“The Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) Program has benefitted numerous Howard Payne students over its forty-year history,” said Dr. Brad Johnson, senior vice president for institutional advancement. “Today, like in 1971, the TEG makes college a financial reality for so many of our Howard Payne students. Our trip to Austin was to say ‘Thank you’ to the representatives and senators for their support and to encourage their continued support during this challenging legislative session,” Johnson added.
Students participating included: Carlee Ammons, sophomore from Richmond, TX; Amanda Hendrix, senior from Lubbock, TX; Dustin McClure, senior from Brownwood; Ashley McLaughlin, senior from Brownwood; and Kathy Hurtado, freshman from Early. The students were accompanied by Dr. Johnson and Yvonne Lundy, executive assistant to the senior vice president for institutional advancement.
Amanda Hendrix said, “I did not realize how much of an impact the TEG on university students in Texas. I was a neat opportunity to meet with the representatives from our county and to see how much they care about providing funds so that we can receive a private education.”
Approximately 420 Howard Payne University students received funding through the Tuition Equalization grant (TEG) in the 2010-2011 academic year.
The Tuition Equalization Grant program was created by the Texas Legislature in 1971 to provide limited financial assistance to students choosing to attend independent colleges and universities. Since its inception, the program has assisted needy students to bridge the gap between tuition rates at state and independent institutions.
To be eligible for a TEG, a student must be a qualified Texas resident; establish financial need as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; be enrolled fulltime in an approved independent college or university in Texas; not receive any form of athletic scholarship; and maintain a 2.5 GPA by the end of the sophomore year.
Pictured above are: Yvonne Lundy, executive assistant to the senior vice president for institutional advancement; Carlee Ammons; Amanda Hendrix; Dustin McClure; Ashley McLaughlin; Dr. Brad Johnson, senior vice president for institutional advancement; and Kathy Hurtado. Photo contributed.
