Some students could be having trouble paying for college after the recent New York state tuition hikes.  But those students should be aware that there are always scholarships to assist them to pay their college tuition .

For example, the Newman Center is one of the many organizations offering scholarships to Buffalo State College students. Currently, it is offering the “Michael and Helen Gacek Outstanding Catholic Student Scholarship Award.” The scholarships will go to three qualified students.

There are three stipulations necessary to apply for the scholarship. The candidate must:

• be receiving passing grades at BSC
• be a practicing Catholic
• give evidence of living out of his or her Catholic faith in a special way by:
• teaching religious education
• working on programs to serve the poor or handicapped
• serving in youth ministry
• assisting liturgical ministry of parish (Eucharistic minister, lector, musician, altar server )
• visiting and working with the elderly or the sick
• promoting social justice issues
• participating in retreats, prayer groups or Bible study

To be considered a candidate, the applicant must fill out an application and answer a few questions a bout their Catholic life – for instance, if they attend Mass regularly. A pplicants will also be asked to describe the activities in which the y are involved in that gives evidence of living the Catholic faith in a special way.

A letter of reference is encouraged from:

• pastor
• professor
• volunteer coordinators

Beth Gardiner is the information guru for the Newman Center. She encourages all of BSC's Catholic students to apply for the scholarship.

One of the winners of the scholarship last year was Kurt Minervino . He said: “I am very fortunate to have been chosen; this scholarship helped me pay my tuition. I really appreciate the scholarship because I do not receive much financial aid, only $250 per semester, so this was a great help in paying my expenses. I qualified for the scholarship because of my deeply rooted Catholic faith and my outstanding community service and volunteering.”

This year's application has already passed. However, students should still contact the Newman Center for an application for next year.