College Tuition

Brian Grim, a Democrat, has put education at the top of his platform in his bid for the House of Delegates Subdistrict 1C seat. Grim, 26, who is single and lives in South Cumberland, Md., recently earned a master's degree in teaching from Frostburg State University, according to a biography on his Web site. He said during an interview that he wants to fully fund every primary and secondary public education classroom in the state. He also favors lowering the cost of college tuition so more people can afford it. He said he disagrees with federal No Child Left Behind mandates and wants to see if Maryland can opt out of them.

College tuition projections for today's infants and toddlers range in the six figures, but parents can control some of those costs by saving today. The Maryland Prepaid College Trust gives parents the opportunity to pay for tomorrow's college studies at today's tuition rates. Enrollment in the state-backed plan ends this year on March 18. After that, costs go up again. The College Savings Plans of Maryland, a state agency that offers college-tuition payment plans, estimates four-year tuition costs at public colleges will double in the next decade or two - the average cost next year is projected to be $7,455 - and climb to six figures between 2022 and 2025.

I appreciate Ruth Callaham's letter of support. I would like to address her question as to the funding for my educational goal that proposes tuition exemptions for higher education programs for Washington County students. As Callaham and the readers know, education has always been, and continues to be, one of my primary interests. I believe it should be of primary interest to every citizen of Washington County. Education affects every citizen in some fashion. It affects your tax bill, whether or not you have children in the system.

ANNAPOLIS -- Republicans called Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's State of the State address "divisive" Thursday, with one member of Washington County's delegation warning that there will be consequences. O'Malley, a Democrat, repeatedly praised President Barack Obama, criticized past Republican administrations at the state and federal levels and passionately supported an end to the death penalty in Maryland, causing Del. Richard B. Weldon Jr. to call O'Malley's speech the most partisan state of the state address he can remember in 20 years.

Hagerstown Community College’s Mathematics and Science Division will a host a Biotechnology Summer Institute information night at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, at HCC’S Career Programs Building, room 213. Participants will have an opportunity to tour the biotechnology labs, learn about the Biotechnology Summer Institute, and discover internship and job opportunities available to students in the biotechnology program.  Participating high school students can receive seven college credits.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Junior Farm Show exhibitors can cut college tuition costs by winning a scholarship from the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation, said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. "We encourage junior Farm Show exhibitors to take advantage of this opportunity and submit their applications," Wolff said. "By helping fund the education of these students, we are strengthening the future of the industry and preserving the proud, essential tradition of agriculture in the commonwealth.

This year West Virginia's most expensive private college successfully used the state's PROMISE scholarship program to attract students who might otherwise have left the state. The strategy, which brought West Virginia Wesleyan at Buckhannon almost $500,000, should be copied by public institutions. Wesleyan is the state's most costly college. Tuition is $19,300 a year, with room and board charges adding another $4,800. It's not the sort of school most associate with the PROMISE program, designed to help students who might not otherwise attend college.

Heritage Academy began offering honors, advanced placement and college courses in the fall of 2009. This year, the program has expanded to give students more options. Honors courses are available in world history, U.S. history, geography, English, calculus, trigonomety and Spanish. Approximately 25 percent of Heritage’s high school students are taking one or more honors courses. Six students are pursuing AP English and one student is pursuing honors calculus, honors trigonometry and AP physics.

MERCERSBURG, Pa. - The Tuscarora Education Foundation recently awarded three James Buchanan High School graduates - Kara Barrett, Lillian Berney and Daniel McClung - with the 2010 Margaret Stickell scholarship in the amount of $1,000 each. The students were selected from the JBHS graduating class of 160 students based on their outstanding academic achievement, and involvement in extracurricular and civic activities. "It is my honor and privilege to present each of these students a $1,000 scholarship to use toward their college tuition," said Michael J. Skubon, foundation chairman.

First count of W.Va. gray machines released A count of so-called "gray machines" in West Virginia shows there are 498 of the gambling machines in Berkeley County, according to Gov. Bob Wise's office. The count is continuing, officials said. In Jefferson County, 156 have been counted and in Morgan County, there are 92, according to the count. Statewide, 12,118 of the machines have been found, according to the governor's office. Wise had asked the West Virginia State Police to count the number of video-poker machines in the state as part of his plan to restrict and regulate the games.