America Needs College Grads: Stop Pell Grants From Being Slashed

When she graduates, Ana Teresa Bagatella will be the first in her family to graduate from college.

But she may have to consider dropping out. Why? If Congress cuts Pell grants in the 2011 budget, Bagatella won't be able to afford school. Her dream of helping her community combat obesity and diabetes will be cut short.

Bagatella's is a story of American opportunity. The oldest child, Bagatella helped her single mom raise her younger sister while her mom worked two and sometimes three jobs. But even thought she did all the housework and took care of her sister, she dedicated herself to her studies.

" I worked so hard in high school to ensure that I would be able to have a chance to extend my education to university," said Bagatella, in a speech she gave this weekend with House minority leader Nancy Pelosi.

But the House of Representatives recently passed a budget extension that would cut Bagatella's Pell Grants by 15%, making it likely she wouldn't be able to continue going to school. Pell Grants are financial aid to low-income students, which 9.4 million college students rely on each year to pay for college. And although Congress recently passed legislation to increase Pell Grant funding over the coming years, this extension would reverse that. By 2017 students would see a $2,090 cut to the currently projected maximum award of $6,105.

"Attending college was a big decision, and it was made possible because of the financial aid provided to me through the Pell Grant," said Bagatella, in her speech. "Between working and taking out loans, it is still not enough to pay for everything, so I rely on the Pell Grant to make up the rest of the cost."

If Pell Grants are cut now, it will impact high school seniors who are making their decisions about where to attend school in the fall. The Student Public Interest Research Groups (Student PIRGs) has started a campaign on Change.org to stop Pell grants from being slashed.

"Cutting Pell Grants has real consequences," said Rich Williams, PIRG’s Higher Education Advocate, in a release. "The millions of students who experienced the joy of opening their college acceptance letter just months ago will now be devastated opening a letter telling them that Congress just cut their financial aid."

Student financial aid advocates are worried about what this will do to students who were depending on Pell Grants to go to college in the fall.

"I dread having to send letters to thousands of students basically saying - although we thought you could afford college, unfortunately Congress has cut your Grant and it looks like you can't afford school after all,"said Rick Shipman, Director of Financial aid for Michigan State University, in a release.

These students are the future of our economy and our nation. We need well-educated citizens from all walks of life. Our modern economy needs educated workers to thrive, but American will fall short of the college-educated citizens it needs by 2018 because of high college costs.

Ana Teresa Bagatella is studying physical fitness, and wants to use her degree to help stop the rising levels of obesity in this nation.

"After graduation I want to become a fitness director and help combat obesity and the diseases that are caused from it, as it is a huge problem in America today," said Bagatella.

Thousands like her want to finish college and use their degree to drive America's economy and help our communities. If you want them to be able to get the college education they need, sign our petition: Save Student Aid - Pell Grants in Peril!

Photo credit: Nazareth College