By Rebecca Hall

In a time of economic uncertainty, students receiving KEES funding can rest assured their money is safe, for now.
The Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship is a state-funded merit-based financial aid program which guarantees students up to $2500 a year to offset the cost of an in-state college education.
There are approximately 6,200 University of Louisville students receiving $10.6 million in KEES funds.
“The state financial aid programs are not being cut for this academic year because the funds are already committed to the students,” said Rebecca Gilpatrick, Student Aid Branch Manager for the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority. “We don’t know what’s going to happen for the next fiscal year.”
The current budget allotted KEES $92 million in funds from net lottery proceeds for the 2008-2009 academic year. The funds were dispersed to approximately 65,000 Kentucky students.
 “The budget for next year has already been approved but because we’ve fallen on such hard times, the legislature is going back to review it to see if any additional cuts need to be made,” said Gilpatrick.
Crit Luallen, Kentucky’s State Auditor, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal recently calling for a review of the state’s financial aid programs.
“There’s a waiting list for need-based aid. The KEES program has no need-based component; it’s totally merit-based. In a time where we have such a dire financial picture for the Commonwealth and we continue to see tuition increases to help support the institutions, I just want to be sure that we are spending every dollar we have as efficiently and effectively as possible,” Luallen said. “I didn’t call for any reduction in financial aid. In fact I’ve done a report calling for increases in financial aid. I think it’s time to review all our programs and be sure they’re structured the way they should be for the maximum benefit to students.”
Luallen serves on a taskforce that recommended a comprehensive review of all the state’s financial aid programs. The review is expected to be completed by September and Luallen said she expects it to provide a better idea of how the financial aid programs are working.
“If any changes were made to the KEES program I think that we would have to honor all of the students currently in the pipeline that have been receiving money because they’ve been promised that money,” Luallen said. However, she said she didn’t forsee any cuts to KEES in this fiscal year.
 “Our philosophy is that KEES is essential for our students because it’s a guarantee that the state offers students, while in high school, funds to offset college education costs,” said Michael Abboud, U of L Financial Aid Associate Director.
Abboud recommends students and their parents pay close attention to media reports about KEES funding so they can take action to prevent cuts to the program by writing or calling their state representatives.
Ann Healy, a senior French major at U of L said the money she received was a factor in her decision to attend U of L.
“I would say the KEES program is really helpful especially for lower-income students who get money guaranteed just by virtue of being good students,” Healy said. “But it would be my preference if they lowered tuition in general.”
Jamayle West, a senior Pan-African studies major, said he isn’t against a merit-based program but wishes there were more funds available to help offset tuition increases.
“I do understand why they would want to focus it toward those making better grades but at the same time, as tuition goes up it’s harder to find money for those who don’t have the income to do it,” West said.  “As long as I’ve been at U of L, every year tuition’s gone up. But my financial aid hasn’t,” he said.  “So each year I have to find a different scholarship or work or something, a different way to supplement what I don’t get in aid.”