Salem - Governor Ted Kulongoski today launched a tour to promote the expanded Oregon Opportunity Grant, a program that will increase financial aid for low- and middle-income students. The Governor began the tour at Portland State University today and will travel to Springfield High School and Rogue Community College in Medford tomorrow to continue to let students and families know about the program.
 
“This expanded Opportunity Grant is very good news for people who have the desire to improve their lives by going to college but have been priced out of a college education,” said Governor Kulongoski. “This is the most far reaching financial aid program in Oregon history.”  
 
The Oregon Opportunity Grant will now be administered based on the Shared Responsibility Model, proposed by the Governor and passed in the 2007 legislative session. The Shared Responsibility Model takes into consideration the student’s ability to pay, combined with other financial aid and then provides funding, through the Opportunity Grant, to fill the gap. The expanded grant doubles the state financial aid package for Oregon students and will reach beyond low-income and into middle-class families, resulting in thousands more Oregonians being able to go to college.
 
“For too long, thousands of families in Oregon have had to delay or give up on going to college,” said Governor Kulongoski. “Today, I am proud to announce that with the expansion of the Opportunity Grant, we will help more than 33,000 students in low-income and middle-income families fulfill the dream of going to college.”
 
The expanded Oregon Opportunity Grant will be available for students starting the 2008 school year. Students will be able to apply for the grant when they fill out their federal financial aid application (FAFSA). The Oregon Student Assistance Commission is also hosting an online calculator on their web page for students and families that will show them what kind of funding the expanded Opportunity Grant could provide. That calculator can be viewed at: http://www.getcollegefunds.org/SRMEstimator/OOGIntro.aspx.
 
For more information on the Oregon Opportunity Grant and other Oregon scholarship opportunities, students can visit http://www.getcollegefunds.org/ong.html or call (800) 452-8807. Student can also