Big Bend student may lose scholarship

MOSES LAKE — Ginna Fontaine, 31, spends most of her time taking care of others.

Fontaine watches over her 2-year-old son and 95-year-old grandfather at home, works full time and is a full time business student at Big Bend Community College.

When Fontaine received a Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholarship last May, she decided to do something for herself. She was going to graduate from college in June and transfer to Central Washington University (CWU) in fall 2010.

“Before I got the scholarship, I didn’t plan on transferring to a university,” Fontaine said. “When I won, I was in shock. It was just a great feeling. I changed my plans and decided to expand my education.”

Only three top high school, skills center and vocational college students from each legislative district receive the WAVE award each year. The scholarship is awarded to 147 students and provides two years of college tuition.

“It is not based on financial aid eligibility or anything, it is based on merit,” Fontaine said.

Fontaine received an acceptance letter from CWU and was working on applications for the university’s business school, when a letter from the state arrived.

“My first thought was that they were just going to ask me when I was planning on using my scholarship,” she recalled.

Instead, the letter informed Fontaine her scholarship may be suspended.

“The governor proposed a Supplemental Budget that would suspend WAVE funding for all recipients during the period of July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011,” the letter stated. “The suspension impacts new WAVE recipients and all those with remaining eligibility.”

Devastated, Fontaine called her mother crying.

“I didn’t know where to turn,” Fontaine said. “I didn’t see this coming. I never thought the state would do something like this.”

The scholarship suspension would affect 548 students, said Tim Sweeny, spokesman for the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.

“This is the first year we’ve ever had an issue with funding,” Sweeny said. “This is a record recession, one of the toughest economic situations we’ve faced here.”

WAVE has been in place since 1985 and served around 3,500 students. If students’ scholarships are suspended this year, they would still maintain their eligibility and may be able to use it later in college years.

Those needing to use their scholarship by next summer, may be out of luck.

“We sent out a notice to all our recipients because if the proposal goes through, their time to spend this scholarship is limited,” Sweeny said. “We wanted to give them a fair warning so they could take classes earlier or if they were counting on dollars next fall, they could develop a contingency plan.”

If the suspension is passed during the legislative session, the state is estimated to save $1.4 million for that biennium. For WAVE to start up again in 2011, the legislature would need to agree to fund the program, Sweeny said.

Fontaine went to Big Bend staff for advice.

“It’s just disappointing that the funding is not there after the scholarship has been awarded,” said Gail Hamburg, vice president for financial and administrative services. “We know that Ginna planned the rest of her educational career using those funds and we are doing everything in our power to help her out. That WAVE scholarship was very important and vital to help her finish her career.”

Hamburg set Fontaine up with a CWU director stationed at Big Bend and helped her apply for scholarships. So far, Fontaine hasn’t heard back from the university regarding her financial aid status or scholarships.

“The bad thing is that the governor is proposing cuts on those too, so I might really be in trouble,” Fontaine said.

Gov. Chris Gregoire proposed a financial aid cut of $61.2 million for community and technical colleges. This would mean less money awarded for state need grants and the elimination of state work study programs, an $8.2 million cut.

“This would force students to take fewer classes, work more, borrow more or drop out of college altogether,” Hamburg said. “We are working to get that reduced, we don’t want that amount. We’re very concerned abut cuts in financial aid for our students.”

Fontaine is fighting against the suspension. She is writing a letter to Gregoire and encouraging others affected by the proposed suspension to do the same.

“This has caused so much stress in my life and I know there are others out there besides me who are just as devastated,” Fontaine said. “I want people to come together and ensure this doesn’t happen.”

Fontaine said she is still going to go to CWU if she doesn’t receive financial help. The loss of aid just makes life harder.

“I want to work for the state and help people,” she said. “I am going to do everything I can to succeed in order to offer my son the best life I can.”