TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Imagine thinking you’re set for a full ride to college, only to find out it wasn’t a real offer. That was the reality for four Scott High School students who thought they were going to Cleveland State, free of charge.
After a mix-up, they were told they were no longer eligible. With graduation in less than a week, it has left some of these students scrambling.
Toledo Tomorrow, a nonprofit that connects students to scholarships, was at Scott High School with an admissions rep from Cleveland State back in April. Mija Martin, with Toledo Tomorrow, said she overheard the admissions rep. talking about some scholarships for students in ‘unfortunate situations.’
“Such as an unaccompanied minor or homeless,” Martin said.
She said students who fit that criteria were called down to the office. Martin said she was there when full-ride scholarships were promised and the admissions rep helped them fill out the application.
“Once I heard I got offered a full-ride, I took it immediately,” said Matthew Manning Jr., one of the students who said he was offered the scholarship.
Manning Jr. said he got his enrollment fees waived and was planning to attend orientation this summer. That is, until last week.
Martin said she received a text from the Admissions Representative saying that all five of the students would not be offered this opportunity, and there was only one student who was going to qualify.
The text said the opportunity was specifically for students who were involved in the foster care system, not for unaccompanied minors, which is how Matthew was going to be eligible since his grandmother had custody.
A Cleveland State Spokesperson issued 13 Action News this statement:
“CSU has not promised, offered or rescinded any full-ride scholarships to students at Jesup W. Scott High School. The confusion concerning ‘full-ride scholarship’ offers to students has occurred due to a misunderstanding of scholarship application materials and requirements. CSU makes financial aid offers after all application materials have been received and reviewed. An official financial aid offer is then made when applications are complete. We are happy to consider completed scholarship applications from any or all of these students.”
But Matthew and his family are hoping someone can make this right.
“Boys his age get caught up in the street life,” said Nikita Jones, Matthew’s mother. “So, for him to want to go to college to get away from that, I was excited, I was happy for him.”
Martin also said some of these students who thought they got this scholarship stopped applying to other schools. Now they’re stuck trying to figure out what’s next.
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