JUNEAU, ALASKA – Governor Sean Parnell congratulated the 2011 Alaska high school graduates who earned Alaska Performance Scholarships (APS) during the scholarship’s inaugural year.

By completing a rigorous high school curriculum, and achieving qualifying grade point averages and test scores, students became eligible to receive a scholarship worth up to $4,755 a year for college or career and technical education. The students’ achievements are particularly notable given the short timeframe available to become aware of APS, take action to meet the academic requirements, and apply for the award.

“This is a strong start to a program that will change lives,” Governor Parnell said. “I am extremely proud of the Alaska students who stepped up their game and challenged themselves with a more demanding curriculum. These scholarships will open doors for graduates from across the state by offering incentives to work hard. It’s a transformational education opportunity for Alaska’s students.”

Preliminary eligibility information is still being submitted by school districts, but early indications are that at least 2,337 of the Alaska high school class of 2011 met APS academic eligibility requirements. Approximately 75 percent of those who were qualified applied for the APS by completing the FAFSA by the June 30 deadline.

APS awards this year are projected to total approximately $4 million.

Diane Barrans, Executive Director of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, which administers the scholarship, said qualified students should apply if they haven’t yet done so. “Alaska students should not miss out on this funding opportunity,” Barrans said. “They have earned this reward and Alaska’s higher education institutions offer diverse, quality programs that can lead to great careers here in Alaska.”

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Mike Hanley noted that demand for the scholarships is expected to grow significantly. “As more families become aware of the scholarship, more students will strive for it, selecting courses that help them fulfill the requirements for a rigorous curriculum,” Hanley said. “The state and Alaska’s school districts are gearing up to make courses available, including by distance through Alaska’s Learning Network, for students who need them.”