Pubdate: Sat, 19 Apr 2003
Source: Florence Morning News, The (SC)
Copyright: 2003 Media General, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.morningnewsonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1525
Author: INSPECTOR ALLEN HEIDLER

DRUG, ALCOHOL CONVICTIONS CAN MEAN NO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR S.C. STUDENTS

Last week, I dedicated this article to the ills of teenage driving offenses 
involving drugs and alcohol. More specifically, I talked directly about the 
Zero Tolerance law and the strict 0.02 percent blood alcohol concentration 
limitations and penalties for individual drivers under the age of 21.

In keeping with this extended season of teenagers approaching the end of 
the school year, when they are more apt to be negatively influenced into 
making severe judgment errors, I thought we should explore another area 
that could financially affect their entire family.

What I'm referring to is the loss of South Carolina need-based grants for 
college because of a criminal conviction. Section 59-142-10 of the South 
Carolina Code of Laws indicates the following: The State shall fund a 
need-based grant for a student who enrolls as an undergraduate in a public 
institution of higher learning in this state and who meets the requirements 
set forth. One of those requirements is that the student making application 
has not been adjudicated delinquent or been convicted of or pleaded guilty 
to any felonies or any alcohol-or drug-related offenses under the laws of 
this or any other state. Being adjudicated (court determined) delinquent or 
having a felony on your record is pretty much self-explanatory, so let me 
expand upon alcohol- and drug-related offenses.

Please read this closely! If the student who is attempting to obtain a 
need-based grant has ever been convicted of any type of drinking and 
driving, minor in possession of alcohol, public consumption, or any other 
alcohol-related charge or drug-related offense (including simple 
possession), he or she will not be eligible for a grant.

Put your thinking caps on now, kids. Your senior beer/liquor bash party, or 
smoking a little weed with your buddies, while not only unlawful and 
unhealthy, will cause you to lose a state grant for college. I don't now 
about you, but the grants I received when I was in college were of great 
assistance to me financially, and I surely would have struggled without them.

So students, in addressing you directly, I guess what you have to do is 
make the decision for yourself. Do you allow others to pressure you into 
doing something stupid during this season, or do you act responsibly and 
leave all that stuff that can get you into big trouble alone?

I guarantee you that, just like every year, students in our area will be 
caught committing violations of this nature and they will lose their 
much-needed financial assistance for college.

Please don't count yourself into these numbers. Do the right thing by 
staying away from unlawful activities and keep your educational plans on track.

 From the Florence Police Department, have a great week.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart