Dare County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a Memorandum of Understanding with College of The Albemarle Foundation for the administration of the Dare Guarantee Scholarship.

The scholarship is intended to encourage high school graduates of Dare County public schools, private schools or home school to attend the Dare Campus of College of The Albemarle full time for college transfer or career and workforce courses of study.

The program is funded with $250,000 from the Dare County general fund. The program will cover any unmet tuition costs and fees and provide up to $1,000 per year for instruction-required textbooks and software.

Guarantee applicants are required to submit applications for college foundation scholarships and federal financial aid, which usually comes in a package with grants and loans. Scholarships and federal grants will be applied first to the college bill. After those funds are applied, the Dare Guarantee kicks in to cover unmet tuition and fees. Applicants are not required to accept federal loans to access the Dare Guarantee.

Dare high school students who have earned college credits through College of The Albemarle will be eligible for the Dare Guarantee program.

The program will start Jan. 1, 2020. The memorandum was adopted Aug. 5 so that scholarship program information will be available now to guidance counselors in Dare schools.

Additional eligibility requirements include that the applicant is a United States citizen or a documented lawful permanent resident and is enrolled in College of The Albemarle within 16 months of graduating from high school.

In the agreement, the foundation is allowed $25,000 per year to assist in administration costs. At the meeting, Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert L. Woodard indicated that the funds will be used to hire someone to promote the program in Dare County. The college and Dare County Schools will partner on hiring the scholarship promoter.

The agreement calls for an annual report.

County manager Robert L. Outten was authorized to sign the document, after making a few minor changes.

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