College students lobby legislators for state and federal grant support at Day at the Capitol

College students visited the Minnesota Capitol Thursday for St. Thomas Day at the Capitol to lobby legislators to continue with supporting the federal Grant Support Program. Trainees achieved with their specific senator and also house representative and wrote letters to Gov. Mark Dayton.



The federal grant support Program may be a need-based financing program which enables Minnesota students afford higher education. But Minnesota’s projected $5 billion funds fault for the next two years puts this course at risk for financial reductions.



Junior Quentin Abraham said the Day at the Capitol is vital given it presents students all over Minnesota.



"We’re down here to voice our opinions and tell them [legislators] to help continue their grant support from the federal Grant Support Program," Abraham said. "We are right here to stand for students who definitely are having financial hardships, through conversation with senators."



Doug Hennes, second in command of university relations, said he can connect with why students think it’s vital that you talk to legislators about how exactly essential the federal grant support is.



"I got a state grant when I was obviously a student within the mid 70’s," Hennes said. "It’s been an easy way for the state to offer assistance to students who otherwise is probably not capable of attend college."



Hennes said 1,340 St. Thomas students received a situation grant this coming year, along with the combined volume of the grants was almost $4 million. It is deemed an average of about $2,985 for every student who receives grant support.



Yet third party lobbying consultant and St. Thomas alum Dennis Egan said the grant volume is down from the last academic year.



"There were 1,477 St. Thomas state grant support recipients during the 2009-10 academic year, along with the average state grant award was $3,508," Egan said. "In total, in excess of $5.1 million in state grant awards were manufactured to St. Thomas students."



Egan said Minnesota’s projected budget shortfall has the possibility to customize the federal Grant Support Program.



"When legislators talk about how young people need to share with you the anguish in terms of how the state’s visiting balance its budget, I believe we will realistically say that any of us feel the pain sensation," Egan said. "This year 18,000 Minnesota students did not receive grant support from the prior year. Eighty-five thousand Minnesota students are receiving fewer than they did last year, which range from $400 and $1,200 less."



Egan said Dayton’s budget pitch creates expect this system, but legislators hold the ultimate capacity to choose how much funding this method gets.