Chicago (Aug. 29, 2007) – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) discussed his support for increasing grant aid to college students at a roundtable discussion Wednesday at Saint Xavier University’s Orland Park campus. Recent federal legislation, the Higher Education Access Act, passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 78-17 on July 19.
Joined by Saint Xavier University President Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D., and three Saint Xavier students, Durbin discussed how students and parents in Illinois would benefit from more than $850 million in new grant aid in the next six years.
“The cost to attend a public four-year college has risen by 42 percent during the past five years, causing severe hurdles for many American students,” Durbin said. “I have been a strong supporter of increasing the maximum Pell grant to help both students and parents—not just those from poverty-stricken areas, but those who come from middle-income households, farm families and the families of recent immigrants.”
SXU senior psychology major Adeeb Odeh said being eligible for federal financial aid “has been crucial” in helping offset the cost of his education.
“The importance of increasing the amount of federal funding is essential to this country's educational system and ensuring that students like me have the resources to continue their education,” said Odeh, of Oak Forest, Ill.
Saint Xavier University graduates as many Pell grant Recipients as it enrolls. During the past three years, 35 percent of the 2006 bachelor degrees were conferred to Pell grant recipients. More than 700 Pell grant recipients have earned bachelor degrees from Saint Xavier during the past three years.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Joe Moore
773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Joe Moore
773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu
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