Scholarships for High Achievers

Re “Davis’ Plans for Education,” letters, Jan. 10: I agree that the focus of educational spending should be at the elementary level and in so-called low-achieving schools, but I believe that it it extremely narrow-minded to assume that most high-achieving students can afford college without government aid. Yes, I live in a suburban area, and yes, I attended a private high school. But my parents worked very hard to get me there. Neither of them has degrees, and by no means do they have a six-figure income, let alone enough money to put me through college. The proposed grants of $5,500 are not enough for even one year of college at any university in California.

As the valedictorian of my high school, I applied for scholarships and for government aid, but my applications were turned down. I was devastated at the thought of not being able to attend a university because I could not afford it; fortunately, a last-resort attempt at a scholarship was successful.

I am proud to say that I am going to start my second semester of a full-ride scholarship to Cal State Long Beach through the President’s Scholars Program. This scholarship for valedictorians and National Merit scholars is privately funded; I received no government assistance. I feel very lucky to be a part of this great program, but unfortunately, there are others who were not given this opportunity. It is a terrible thing when students who have worked so hard in school do not have the funds to continue their education in college. Top students do need and deserve as much encouragement as everyone else.

LISA PINLEY

Quartz Hill

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I am puzzled by Carol Jago’s critique of Gov. Gray Davis’ essentially benign scholarship proposal (Commentary, Jan. 7). She plucks a Bible passage out of context and then proceeds to attack its literal interpretation (missing the point entirely), using it only as a springboard for her argument that rewarding good students is “fundamentally misguided” and that the $118 million earmarked for the program would be better spent on “students who need help more.”

Those who perform poorly for any reason, including ones who turn nothing in, already receive the lion’s share of school spending, because it has become fashionable to make heroes of the unfortunate, giving unmotivated students incentives to fail. I think funding should be focused on those willing to put education first, whether top performers or average students (an endangered species).

DEANNA FAULKNER

Orange