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<DIV><SPAN class=053314518-06052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>FYI - Today, Senate
Appropriations Chair Mike Morgan (D - Stillwater) issued a press release
announcing full funding for OHLAP scholarships for the coming 2004-05
year.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=053314518-06052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=053314518-06052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>The text of the
press release is provided below. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=053314518-06052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>You can also find
the release online at: <A
href="http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases/press_releases_2004/pr20040506.html">http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases/press_releases_2004/pr20040506.html</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=053314518-06052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>There is also an
audio clip at: <A
href="http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases_audio_clips/2004_audio_clips/prac200405.html">http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases_audio_clips/2004_audio_clips/prac200405.html</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
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size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
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<DIV><SPAN class=053314518-06052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2>=======================================</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=053314518-06052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=053314518-06052004><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Senate
Appropriations Chair Keeps OHLAP Funding Promise</FONT></STRONG>
<P align=left>State Senate Appropriations Chairman <A
href="http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/biographies/morgan_bio.html">Mike
Morgan</A>, D-Stillwater, has kept his word—the state’s Oklahoma Higher Learning
Access Program (OHLAP) will be fully funded in the 2004-2005 school
year.<BR><BR>“Last November, Sen. Herb Rozell and I pledged this would be one of
our top priorities for this session. The 9,000 Oklahoma students who are
counting on these scholarships this fall can rest assured that promise has been
kept,” Morgan said. <BR><BR>Rozell, D-Tahlequah, is chairman of the Senate
Appropriations Sub-Committee on Education.<BR>Despite last year’s historic
budget shortfall, the lawmakers worked to ensure the nearly 5,000 Oklahoma high
school seniors anticipating those scholarships weren’t disappointed. <BR><BR>“It
was not easy, but we did secure the $11 million we needed last year to make sure
those kids got the opportunity they deserved. During the 2004-2005 school year,
we’re going to have 4,800 continuing OHLAP scholarship students plus an
additional 4,200 new freshmen. As promised, we’ve allocated $19.2 million this
session to fully fund the program,” Rozell said.<BR><BR>OHLAP scholarships are
available for Oklahoma high school graduates who have met specific academic
requirements, and whose parents make less than $50,000 a year.<BR><BR>Sen.
Morgan explained that the $19.2 million to fully fund OHLAP was an investment
that will yield high returns for the Oklahoma students earning college degrees
and ultimately for the entire state.<BR><BR>“Look at the U.S. Census Bureau
figures or talk to experts in economics or in higher education and they’ll tell
you that the cities and states with the highest per capita incomes are those
with the highest numbers of college graduates,” Morgan said. “OHLAP could well
be one of the most important economic development programs Oklahoma has ever
implemented.” <BR><BR><STRONG><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size=2>For more information contact:</FONT></STRONG><BR><FONT face=Arial><FONT
size=2>Senate Communications Office - (405) 521-5774<BR><SPAN
class=053314518-06052004>===============================================</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P></SPAN></DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bryce Fair</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Assoc.
Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Phone: (405) 225-9162</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fax:
(405) 225-9230</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>E-mail:
bfair@osrhe.edu</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mailing Address:</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>P.O. Box 108850</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oklahoma City,
OK 73101-8850</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Street Address:</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>655 Research Parkway, Suite 200</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Oklahoma City, OK 73104</FONT> </P>
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