Thirty Trenton Catholic Academy students had the opportunity March 20 to meet with Governor Chris Christie before a press-conference announcing an urban scholarship program. In his conversation with students, the governor noted TCA as a great example of how a school can create the right environment for students to realize their potential and goals.

During the press conference, which was held in the school, Governor Christie announced that high school students in 14 urban school districts, including Trenton, could earn college scholarships under a proposed initiative which would earmark $1 million in the governor’s budget to fund an urban scholarship program, providing up to 1,000 students with $1,000 scholarships for four years. To qualify, students must meet income requirements, be in the top five percent of their class, and have at least a 3.0 grade point average.

Governor Christie said that all students should have viable choices in the schools they attend.  Parochial schools play a great role in providing options to many families.  He said that the scholarships under his program will level the playing field between the “haves and the have-nots.”

“Why should we not allow college to be a real possibility for those children?” Christie said, adding he wants to make higher education more “accessible and available.”

To qualify for the Urban Scholarship Program, students must attend a traditional public, public charter, county vo-tech or nonpublic high school.  Scholarships can be used to attend any college in New Jersey, public or private. The scholarships will be available starting in the fall 2012-2013 school year if legislators approve Christie’s budget.  The 14 eligible towns are Asbury Park, Camden, East Orange, Irvington Township, Jersey City, Lakewood, Millville, Newark, New Brunswick, Trenton, Paterson, Plainfield, Roselle and Vineland.  The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will administer the program and will notify eligible high schools in the next few months.