ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 8, 1996 TAG: 9611080067
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
Attorney General Jim Gilmore proposed Thursday that the state award $2,000 college scholarships based on academic performance to the top fifth of high school seniors.
Gilmore, the expected Republican nominee for governor next year, announced the Virginia New Century Scholars program in a speech to students at the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond. He did not disclose the cost of the plan or how the state might pay for it.
Not to be outdone, a spokeswoman for Lt. Gov. Don Beyer - the expected Democratic nominee for governor next year - said Beyer is considering proposing that the state offer full in-state tuition scholarships to high school students graduating with a B average or better.
Beyer's spokeswoman and Gilmore acknowledged that there are still many details to be worked out on each proposal. Gilmore said he would not seek to enact his plan before 1998 and it is uncertain whether Beyer will be prepared to seek legislative approval for his program any sooner.
But the competing proposals signify the emergence of college tuitions as a major issue in next year's gubernatorial race. Virginia has the second-highest public college tuitions in the nation.
Gilmore's program would grant scholarships for students who maintain a B average, score in the top 20 percent on a standardized test Virginia plans to implement in 1998 and attend a public or private college in the state.The proposal would have to be approved and funded by the General Assembly.
``Everywhere I go across this commonwealth, I meet with business executives with job vacancies for highly skilled workers,'' Gilmore said. ``By providing the right incentives, we will increase the number of Virginia's skilled workers and fill all of those vacancies.''
Gilmore said a typical high school class in Virginia has about 60,000 students. If the program rewarded those who score in the top 20 percent on the tests, as many as 12,000 students could be eligible, for a maximum cost of $24 million in the first year. ``It will depend on the resources that are going to be available,'' he said.
Page Boinest, a spokeswoman for Beyer, said the Democrat's proposal would pay full in-state tuition for as many as 15,000 students at a cost of $40 million.
Want more information? Gilmore's office is (804)786-2071; Beyer's office is (804)786-2078.
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