Attention high school seniors and college freshman. Applications for financial assistance to close the gap on your college expense are now available for the Questa Scholars Program.

2013 marks the third year that individuals and business leaders in Kosciusko county have partnered with Questa Foundation to sponsor the Questa Scholars Program. The Questa Scholars Program is designed to ease the financial burden of a college education for high school seniors and college freshmen who meet the qualifications of the program.

The Questa Scholars program allows accessibility to a college degree. It decreases the cost of a college education; and increases the graduate retention in northeast Indiana.

Questa Scholars may borrow up to $20,000 for college tuition, fees, books and living expenses over four years. When a Questa Scholars graduate from college and choose to live and work in northeast Indiana, they may receive up to 50 percent forgiveness by Questa Foundation. If the Questa Scholar attends one of the regional partnering schools – Grace College, Huntington University, Indiana Tech, Indiana Wesleyan University, IPFW, Ivy Tech, Manchester University, Trine, or University of Saint Francis – they can receive an additional 25 percent in forgiveness on their loan.

Scholars may reduce their loan debt by up to 75 percent when they meet the Questa Scholars criteria and graduate from a partnering school.

As special opportunity exists for Kosciusko students who are interested in a health career field through a unique partnership that was established last year with K21 Health Foundation to support Kosciusko health care students.

Applications are available online at www.questafoundation.org. Application deadline is May 1.

The low-interest forgivable loans are unique to other loan and scholarship program offered and are funded by local foundations and generous support of community businesses and individuals. All money repaid to the loan fund recycles to support future Questa Scholars. Please visit our website for more information about the Questa Scholars Program offered by Questa Foundation for Education, as well as other program opportunities.