No more scholarship for excelling AIMS students?

PHOENIX - With tuition rising at state schools and more students qualifying for the AIMS scholarship, State Regents will soon have some different options in front of them.

Those options could affect you, and your kids' future school plans.

"There was much joy and elation," said Claudia Swartz after her oldest son took the standardized Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards test last year.

"Our family has always planned on, and was looking forward to, the opportunity for my oldest son and my other two children as well for this scholarship," she said.

Her oldest son Jake exceeded in the three parts of the exam and qualified for the AIMS scholarship, meaning full tuition paid for four years.

An accomplishment her other kids might not have the chance to capitalize on after the state universities have asked the Board of Regents to evaluate the scholarship.

A regents committee is meeting on Thursday to look into making harder restrictions for students to qualify or possibly getting rid of the scholarship all together, saying the way it is now is costing the state too much money.

"Don't dip into the merit scholarships, they need to take a look at aspects of where they can cut back," said Swarz.

Swarz added, cutting the scholarships not only hurt her family and hard working students, it hurts the state.

"I think the number one important factor behind this scholarship is let's keep all of those bright minds here, lets give them a chance to stay in state if at all possible," said Swarz.

She said her kids might now plan to take an out of state scholarship instead.

The Board of Regents hopes to be able to vote on proposals in its regularly scheduled meeting in August.