Keeping a Promise

A closer look into the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act

Photos & Story | Mason Poepperling

One of the harshest realities of college is that education costs money. For some at Hutchinson Community College who want to enter the technical field, even with all available aid, the cost of tuition, books and fees can be too great for them to handle. This is where the newly implemented Kansas Promise Scholarship Act comes into play.

The Promise Act, put in place by the Kansas Board of Regents, provides scholarships to any student who qualifies so they can attend a post-secondary institution for a two-year associate degree program, career and technical certificate, or stand alone program as recognized by the board. To further explain what this all means, Carolyn Parson, HutchCC’s Kansas Promise Act Coordinator, dives into what type of student qualifies and how this scholarship helps on their education journey.

“Primarily, this program is designed to help students gain specific information in specific areas because one of the things with businesses we’re noticing is that it’s difficult to find a skilled labor force. So the purpose of the program is to have a skilled labor force,” Parson said.

Currently, the Kansas Promise Act is only available to students who are Kansas residents aged 21 or older. However, in Jan. 2022, KBOR will meet again to discuss possible changes to the act, including reducing the age limit to make it more accessible to those who have recently graduated from high school.

“Right now there’s a gap from high school to 21, so what we think the legislatures will look at is how can we

close that gap,” Parson said.

On the HutchCC campus, the Promise Act applies to five different programs: Advanced Manufacturing and Building Trades, Early Childhood Education and Development, Healthcare, Information Technology and Security, and Fire Science.

“If (a student) is interested in gaining job skills to help them secure a job then this would be the program for them,” Parson said. “What we’re hoping for is that (Promise Act students) will remain in Kansas and that they will find that community that will support them should they decide to have a family and will be a great place for them to raise children, and to be able to support themselves.”

Recent current events have taken a toll on community jobs everywhere, including Kansas. The purpose of the Promise Act is to help aid students in providing the important pillars of a community that would struggle to stand on its own without them.

“We have to build communities, and the way we build communities is you get new people into the community and then they start their families and maybe they’ll bring someone in that they know and then they’ll start building their communities from there,” Parson said.

With the intention to continue building the Hutchinson community, Parson and the Promise Act at HutchCC will be able to provide aid to those who want to begin their education journey. In the end, it’s important for students looking to make a difference in their community that the Promise Act is there for them whenever they apply.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING & BUILDING TRADES Industrial Electrical Technology Automation Engineer Technology Manufacturing Engineering Technology Computer Drafting Technology Construction-Residential Construction Electrical Apprenticeship Machine Technology Welding Technology Transfer Options: AS Area of Study: Management Information Systems EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT Transfer Options: AGS Area of Study: Early Childhood Education AA Area of Study: Elementary Education AS Area of Study: Elementary Education INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & SECURITY Web Development Networking Computer Support Specialist Transfer Options: AS Area of Study: Computer Science Friends University, KS Wesleyan, Southwestern College AS Area of Study: Cyber Security Friends University AS Area of Study: Management Information Systems

HEALTHCARE (PHYSICAL & MENTAL) Health Information Management Physical Therapy Assistant Advanced Emergency Medical Technician EMT: Basic Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic Respiratory Therapist Surgical Technology Radiologic Technology Phlebotomy Home Health Aide Medication Aide Restorative Aide Nursing - Associate Degree Practical Nursing Nursing Aide Transfer Options: AA Area of Study: Business Administration AA in Pre-Occupational Therapy Assistant AS on Nursing FIRE SCIENCE AAS Area of Study: Fire Science CERT A Area of Study: Fire Science CERT C Area of Study: Fire Science

The Kansas Promise Scholarship act is currently available at different community 19 colleges across the state.

This flyer also contains information about the Kansas Promise Scholarship, provided by HutchCC marketing.