Lions lobby for Cal Grant

Kaley Partington, assistant editor

Two students will travel to Sacramento to lobby against the proposed elimination of the competitive Cal Grant on March 2. Along with meeting state representatives, they will bring letters written by other Vanguard students who would be affected by this decision as well.          

 Junior Alina Ortiz and senior Lizeth Guevara were the first to respond to an email sent out on Jan. 26 by the Financial Aid Department, which is allowing them the opportunity to travel to Sacramento. 

This email was sent to all students that receive the Cal Grant and explained this possible elimination. It included a pre-written letter that had sections for students to fill in with their story and how the Cal Grant impacts them.          

Both Ortiz and Guevara depend on this government funding to attend college and believe in its importance to allow other students like them to go to school and prepare them for the workforce. Ortiz explained that without the Cal Grant, she wouldn’t be able to attend Vanguard. Without the Cal Grant, she would face high interest rates and limited amount of loans being offered, making it unrealistic to stay.

They will be participating in a student lobby day on March 2, which is organized by the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities. According to Katy Neric, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Vanguard is part of this association, which assists independent and private colleges that may not have as much of a voice as state-funded schools.            

During the lobby day, Ortiz and Guevara will be attending pre-arranged appointments with different offices of representatives and assembly members. They will also be presenting their letters along with other students that have feelings about this possible cut. The letters will be passed on to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assemblyman Van Tran, and Senator Tom Harmon.         

 “They’ll meet with them to basically just put a face to the Cal Grant, and why it’s important, and why we should continue funding it, and what it means to students to actually have that amount,” Neric said. 

This is not the first time Vanguard students have voiced their opinion about the Cal Grant. Students have participated and lobbied in 2006, 2007, and 2008.            

The Daily Californian, an independent student newspaper for the University of California, Berkeley,  recently reported only $1.5 billion of the allotted $6.9 billion budget has been secured, therefore making the future of California’s allowance unclear. If this $6.9 billion is not received, then cuts will be made to the competitive Cal Grant.           

“It affects the people, which affects the economy, which affects society,” Guevara said. “I think it is so necessary to let your voice be heard. Why not go out and speak as loud as you can and tell them what you think?”           

At Vanguard, 282 students are currently receiving the Cal Grant, and 16 of them are competitive Cal Grant recipients. The primary amount awarded for the grant is $9,708, with an additional $1,551 for high-need students. This amount is based on the tuition and has been the same for the past few years.

The competitive Cal Grant is the most difficult to obtain because although many are eligible for it, only so many applicants receive it. It is often most helpful to upperclassman who may have transferred into a university from a community college or an out-of-state student who establishes residency and needs that money to further his or her education.            

Any other Cal Grant recipient who wishes to participate in the Sacramento letter campaign can contact the Financial Aid Department.