McHenry County Blog

A press release from State Rep. Mike Tryon:

Tryon Co-Sponsors Legislation to End Scholarship Program

SPRINGFIELD – A controversial scholarship program that provides full tuition waivers for each State Representative to award to students in their home legislative districts will officially end this year.

Mike Tryon

State Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake), a co-sponsor of the bill, said that while he has seen students from District 64 benefit tremendously from the program, the time has come to discontinue it.

“In this difficult budget year, every penny counts,” he said.

“As we face tough decisions regarding funding for all levels of education, it is not appropriate for us to force our State universities to absorb these tuition waivers.”

Through the program, students are awarded full tuition waivers to use at the State school of their choice.

According to Tryon, the system did not have rigid guidelines that prohibited some legislators from handing out the waivers to political allies or donors.

In his office, Tryon said he has always been completely removed from the process, and an independent committee always reviewed the applications and determined the recipients.

“The only time I would see the list of recipients would be after the process was complete so I could ensure that the waivers were spread evenly between the towns I represent.”

In 2011, 1,327 tuition waivers were awarded in Illinois, costing the State $13,508,800.

This $13.5 million is an unfunded mandate on State universities, where the cost is then passed on to other students paying tuition.

“In times like these, unfunded mandates and extra costs to our universities need to be eliminated,” Tryon said. “It was a difficult vote because I know that in some cases the waiver made a difference between a child going to college or not going to college.”

In addition to abolishing the General Assembly Scholarship Program, House Bill 3810 creates the Tuition and Fee Waiver Task Force to evaluate tuition and fee waiver programs offered by State universities.

“The creation of the task force was a key selling point for me, because I believe there still exists a serious issue where children of very high-paid university employees are attending college tuition-free,” Tryon said.

“I believe the waivers need to be either eliminated across the board, or at a minimum that those who continue to receive them should have the amount of the waiver treated as taxable income.”

The bill has been sent to the Governor for his signature.

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Names of those who will receive Tryon’s last legislative scholarships follow:

• Rosa Wu, Jacobs H.S.
• Brittany Daley, Jacobs H.S.
• Brandon Bencko, Huntley H.S.
• Stephanie Konecki, Crystal Lake Central H.S.
• Helen Bengtson, Prairie Ridge H.S.
• Bodecker DellaMaria, already in college, from CL
• Bridgette Martinak, already in college, from Algonquin
• Riley Quinlan, already in college, from Algonquin

A press release from State Rep. Kent Gaffney:

Gaffney, Sullivan Turn Down Legislative Scholarship Program

Ed Sullivan

Kent Gaffney

Barrington, IL… Due to State budgetary troubles, State Representatives Kent Gaffney (R-Lake Barrington) and Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) have jointly decided to turn down the General Assembly Scholarship Program offered to each legislator in the Illinois General Assembly.

The General Assembly Scholarship Program is an unfunded mandate that allows legislators to award up to eight scholarships each year covering tuition at State universities.

“While many people have benefited from this program, in times like these, unfunded mandates and extra costs to the State need to be reviewed,” said Gaffney. “Illinois just had its ninth bond downgrade in the past four years and the State is facing billions of dollars of unpaid bills. We need to look at every option available to save taxpayer dollars, this not the time to be awarding Legislative Scholarships.”

In 2011, 1,327 tuition waivers were awarded in Illinois, costing the State $13,508,800. This $13.5 million is an unfunded mandate on State universities, where the cost is then passed on to other students paying tuition. Tuition rates in Illinois have been skyrocketing the past few years. Since 2003, the University of Illinois’ tuition rate has gone up 53%, averaging $14,414 a year. With State finances in dire straights and taxpayers getting hit with a 67% tax increase, Gaffney and Sullivan want to cut costs by not participating in the program.

“I have participated in this program since I was first elected and many deserving students have benefited from these scholarships. However in these tough economic times, tough decisions have to be made,” said Sullivan. “My office will no longer be offering the General Assembly Scholarship.”

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Here’s what Mike Tryon is doing.

McHenry County has sought out individuals, organizations and facilities since 1994 to apply for a Green Award.

The winners were supposed to be honored at Tuesday night’s County Board meeting, but weren’t on the agenda.

Ward Duel, first Public Health Director and long-time member of the Defenders.

DueBut, since Earth Day is Friday, McHenry County Blog is pleased to announce that McHenry County’s premier environmental organization, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, won the Green Award for organizations.

Pretty much the only way the Defenders, formerly known as the McHenry County Defenders, wouldn’t win is if the group did not fill out an application.

Or, if the rules said a group could only win once.

So, Happy Earth Day, Defenders.

In other news from the Defenders is this press release about a $500 scholarship:

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS OFFER SCHOLARSHIP

The name has been changed to the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, but the mission is the same.

WOODSTOCK – Each year, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County awards a scholarship to a high school senior interested in pursuing a career in environmental work. The $500 scholarship will be given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated a commitment to his/her schoolwork, the community, and the environment.

The applicant must be a resident of McHenry County, and the following must be included with the application:

• Documentation of volunteer work for an environmental organization
• Two letters of recommendation, with one being from a high school teacher
• Grade point average from high school transcript
• An essay on student’s goals and aspirations in regard to the environment

Defenders marched behind parades picking up re-cyclable bottles and cans. Here they are at McHenry Fiesta Days Parade.

An application can be picked up at the Defenders’ office, 110 S Johnson St, Suite 106, Woodstock, IL, or downloaded from the Defenders’ website.

Completed applications must be received in the Defenders’ office by May 9, 2011. If you have any questions regarding the scholarship, please call the office at 815-338-0393.

Formed in 1970, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment. The group provides community residents with educational programs and volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation. Donations are welcomed and are tax-deductible as charitable contributions.  For more information, visit www.mcdef.org or call 815-338-0393.