YKCC June 2021

YOUR
COLLEGE
CONNECTION
June 2021
Webinars provide guidance on
applying for financial aid
KHEAA has received a $49,633 grant from the National College
Attainment Network (NCAN) to fund initiatives encouraging more
Kentucky students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA).
IN THIS ISSUE
2 Flyer helps eighth-graders
prepare for high school
Private loans
3 ‘The College Circuit’
Social media schedule
4 Students should check their
KEES accounts
Webinar recordings
5 College reading challenge
sweepstakes
Scholarship for vaccinated
6 Optometry Scholarship
7 Higher education can mean a
better future
Scholarship Spotlight
8 Studies highlight income gaps
9 Short-term certificates
File the FAFSA
10 National test dates
For help with your higher education
and financial aid questions, visit
www.kheaa.com
KHEAA will use the grant to host weekly and bi-weekly webinars for
students, families, school counselors and college access professionals
every week through August.
As part of the campaign, four 2021 graduating seniors will receive $500
one-time college scholarships.
“Completing the FAFSA will qualify most students for financial aid
they can use to pay for education after high school, whether they’re
interested in a technical program or a four-year degree,” Gov. Andy
Beshear said. “No matter which path they choose, Kentucky high
school seniors deserve every opportunity to further their education – by
investing in themselves, they are also investing in their family’s and
community’s future.”
NCAN is a national organization that helps students achieve greater
success in accessing and completing education after high school. The
Kresge Foundation partnered with NCAN to provide funding for the
grant.
“For more than 50 years, KHEAA has helped students and families
prepare for postsecondary education through our outreach counselor
and publications services,” said Gene Hutchins, KHEAA’s executive
director. “We appreciate the confidence NCAN has shown in us with
this grant and will use the funding to help this year’s high school seniors
as they prepare for the next step in their educational careers. KHEAA
continuously strives to ensure equity and inclusion for all Kentucky
students and these funds will help enhance these efforts.”

2
Flyer gives eighthgraders
tips about
high school success
Kentucky eighth-graders
headed for high school in the
fall should check out “High
School Basics,” a four-page
flyer from KHEAA.
“Kentucky eighth-graders
have been through a tough
school year as we’ve fought
the COVID-19 pandemic,
and we want to make their
transition to high school as
smooth as possible after all of
their sacrifices to help protect
others on Team Kentucky,” Gov. Andy Beshear said.
“This free flyer will let them know what to expect as
freshmen and how they can make the most of their
high school years.”
“High School Basics” includes information about:
• Credits and graduation requirements,
• Calculating a GPA,
• Reading a high school transcript,
• The Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship
(KEES) and
• Earning college credit while in high school.
Free copies are available by emailing publications@
kheaa.com. Please remember to include a mailing
address along with a request. An online version is
available on kheaa.com.
Private loans bridge gap
between college costs,
other student aid
Most college-bound students qualify for financial
aid to help pay for their education. That aid includes
federal and state grants, scholarships and federal
loans. But some students may find that these programs
don’t cover all the costs of college. Others may not
qualify for state and federal aid because they’re going
to school less than half-time.
Because interest rates on private loans depend on the
borrower’s credit rating, students may have to pay
higher rates than they would on federal student loans.
In addition, many lenders require students to have a
cosigner, and most require the college to certify that
the student needs the loan.
Students and parents should compare the private
loans offered by various lenders to find the best
possible deal. And, they should definitely check into
the Advantage Education Loan, Kentucky’s only
not-for-profit private student loan. The Advantage
Education Loan is offered by KHEAA’s sister agency,
the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan
Corporation (KHESLC).
Visit www.advantageeducationloan.com for more
information about Advantage Education Loans.

Free booklet helps
Kentuckians plan for
higher education
Kentuckians planning
for higher education
should check out “The
College Circuit,” a helpful
informational booklet
published by KHEAA.
Kentuckians can request
a free copy by emailing
publications@kheaa.
com.
“Kentucky middle and
high school students and recent high school graduates
can look to this booklet for help planning for their
futures. My administration puts education first
because it’s key to more opportunities for our people
as we build a better Kentucky for all,” Gov. Andy
Beshear said. “The booklet also helps parents support
their children and teens as they look into different
options for education after high school.”
Counselors can also use it to help their students plan
and pay for college. The booklet includes information
about careers; college preparation; state and federal
financial aid; tips for parents; online resources; and a
template for setting up a personal college plan.
The booklet shows the steps involved in applying
for federal student aid and provides guidance about
student loans.
KHEAA continues hosting
social media outreach
KHEAA Outreach will continue to provide live help
in July via Facebook and Twitter. The schedule is:
• July 6: Financial Freedom: Money Management,
Facebook
• July 7: Financial Freedom: How to Save Money,
Twitter
• July 13: Beach Bash: Just Keep Swimming
Towards Success, Facebook
• July 14: Beach Bash: Plenty of Scholarships in the
Sea, Twitter
• July 20: KHEAA Outreach: KHEAA at Your
Service, Facebook
• July 21: KHEAA Outreach: Get to Know Us,
Twitter
• July 27: Admit Me: Your Admissions Questions
Answered, Facebook
• July 28: Admit Me: Before You Apply, Twitter
All sessions begin at 3 p.m. Eastern, 2 p.m. Central.
The links are:
www.facebook.com/KHEAA/
www.twitter.com/KHEAA
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Students should check their
KEES accounts for accuracy
Kentucky high school students and Class of 2021
graduates should check their Kentucky Educational
Excellence Scholarship (KEES) accounts for accuracy.
Under the KEES programs, students earn money for
college for good grades in high school and good scores
on the ACT or SAT.
To check their awards, students must sign into their
account on kheaa.com. If they don’t yet have an
account, they can set one up.
“Kentucky high school students and recent graduates
should check their KEES accounts at least once a year
to make sure they’ve gotten all funds that they have
earned through their hard work in classes,” Gov. Andy
Beshear said. “KEES funds earned in high school can
help students attend college or technical school, giving
them more opportunities to pursue a career they’re
passionate about and that will provide well for their
families.”
Students can verify that their KEES GPA is correct by
taking the letter grade for each course taken during
the school year and converting it to a 4.0 scale. On this
scale, an A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, and F = 0.
Pluses and minuses count the same, so an A- and an
A+ are both worth 4.0 points. Grades for Advanced
Placement, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge
Advanced International and dual credit courses are
weighted, making an A = 5.0, B = 4.0, etc.
Students should also make sure their account has their
correct date of birth and Social Security number.
If they find problems with their account or cannot
access their KEES information, students should call
(800) 928-8926.
Previous webinar
recordings available
During the spring and fall semesters Kentucky Goes
to College, a program sponsored by KHEAA, hosted
multiple webinars regarding college and college
admissions. These webinars covered topics ranging
from filing the FAFSA to information about KHEAA
publications. Recordings of the presentations are
available to view either at the Kentucky Goes to
College website, or on KHEAA’s YouTube channel.
Along with these webinars, Kentucky Goes to College
offers other resources for schools and organizations
interested in enhancing their college-going culture.
They are currently hosting a FAFSA Challenge
contest which aims to get students to complete the
FAFSA.

Four students will win funds for college in reading challenge
Four Kentucky children will win $1,000 toward
college this year through a summer reading program
at their local public library. KHEAA, KY Saves
529, and the Kentucky Department for Libraries and
Archives have launched the Go Wild! College Savings
Summer Reading Sweepstakes as part of the 2021
Summer Reading Program at participating public
libraries across the state.
The sweepstakes, which runs through Aug. 13,
will award four $1,000 college savings accounts
to children 18 years or younger. In addition, each
winner’s local public library will receive $500 toward
future reading programs. KHEAA and KY Saves
529 are sponsoring Go Wild! as part of this year’s
public library reading program, Tails and Tales,
to encourage children to keep reading and learning
during summer vacation. KDLA is an agency in the
Kentucky Education and Workforce Development
Cabinet.
“As an educator and parent, I encourage every parent
to get their children involved in their local public
library’s summer reading program because students
can lose valuable academic skills if their brains take
a summer vacation from learning,” said Lt. Governor
Jacqueline Coleman, who is also the secretary of the
cabinet. “In addition, the partnership with KY Saves
529 is a great way to remind families to start saving
for postsecondary education.”
Parents, grandparents or guardians can enter their
children for the sweepstakes by filling out an entry
form at their local public library when their children
sign up for the Summer Reading Program or by going
to https://www.kysaves.com/home/gowild.html to
fill out the entry form.
No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Visit
kysaves.com/gowild for official rules and prize
details.
Vaccinated students can
win full scholarships
Kentucky youth age 12 to 17 can win one of 15
full scholarships to any Kentucky public college,
university, technical or trade school in the state
through the Shot at a Million sweepstakes after they
have received at least one dose of a safe and effective
COVID-19 vaccine.
Vaccinated Kentuckians 18 and older can sign up
for three chances to win $1 million through the
sweepstakes as well. To learn more and sign up, visit
ShotAtAMillion. The first $1 million winner and the
first five full scholarship winners will be announced
Friday, July 2.
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Applications for Optometry
Scholarship available July 1
Kentuckians interested in becoming optometrists may
apply for the state’s Optometry Scholarship program,
administered by KHEAA.
“Kentuckians need access to good, quality eye care,
which is critical to a person’s overall health and
wellness, and the Optometry Scholarship program
helps students prepare to provide those services to
even more of our people,” said Gov. Andy Beshear.
“Through this opportunity, students can pursue their
educational goals and know they are helping their
community stay safe and healthy at the same time.”
The scholarship may be used at the Kentucky College
of Optometry at the University of Pikeville; Indiana
University College of Optometry in Bloomington;
Southern College of Optometry in Memphis,
Tennessee; or the University of Alabama Birmingham
College of Optometry.
Applications for the 2022–2023 academic year may
be submitted beginning July 1, 2021. The deadline
to apply is Dec. 1, 2021. Recipients will be notified
in February 2022. Applicants must be Kentucky
residents and U.S. citizens to be eligible for the
scholarship program.
The application will be available on https://www.
kheaa.com/website/kheaa/optometry?main=1
beginning July 1.

Higher education can
lead to a future with
more opportunities
For most Kentuckians, getting at least some advanced
training or education after high school will lead to a
future with more opportunities and higher expected
income.
“My administration will always put education first,
because it’s one of the most important things for
helping our people get the better-paying jobs they
want and helping them reach their goals,” Gov. Andy
Beshear said. “As we emerge from this pandemic with
an economy that’s heating up, there are going to be
more opportunities than ever in the commonwealth,
and higher education can prepare you to seize those
opportunities.”
Data from the Census Bureau’s 2020 American
Community Survey show why.
According to the survey, Kentucky high school
graduates aged 25 and older reported a median
income of $31,313 per year. A median means that half
of the people who responded made more than that
amount, while half made less.
Kentuckians who had some post-high school
education made over $4,000 more per year, while
those with two-year degrees made nearly $6,000 more
each year.
The unemployment rates for high school graduates
and those with some college or technical training was
basically the same, 5.1 percent versus 5.2 percent. The
jobless rate for Kentuckians with a two-year degree
was much lower at 3 percent.
Scholarship Spotlight
Kentucky National Guard Leader
Development Foundation Scholarship
Eligibility: Must be the dependent child of an
active, retired or deceased Kentucky National Guard
member and submit high school or applicable college
transcript, a 250-word essay on a given subject,
a recent photo and 3 character reference letters
from public, educational and/or religious leaders
who are not family members. Based on financial
need, academic scholarship, personal character and
leadership qualities.
Award: Varies
Deadline: early July
Number: 6; subject to change
Contact: Kentucky National Guard Leader
Development Foundation, 1117 Louisville Road,
Frankfort, KY 40601; 502.564.7500; or 800.251.2333
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Report shows income gaps along racial and ethnic lines
Despite growing diversity in Kentucky’s workforce,
black, Asian and Hispanic workers in Kentucky
continue to earn less than white counterparts do over
a lifetime. In many cases, the gaps are severe.
That’s one of several findings in a report from the
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.
The analysis shows that black Kentuckians with a
bachelor’s degree earn only about 55 percent of the
amount that white workers make over a lifetime. That
number grows to 57 percent at the master’s degree
level. Even with a master’s degree, black workers still
earn less on a median basis than white employees who
only have a high school diploma.
A median means that half the people earn less than
the median, while half earn more.
Overall, the report found that college degrees provide
financial benefits for all racial and ethnic groups
and often help narrow the income gaps with white
workers.
Asian workers with a bachelor’s degree make about
62 percent of the money that white workers earn with
a similar credential. That amount increases to 72
percent at the master’s level.
Hispanic workers fare better than other groups but
still face substantial gaps. Hispanic employees with
a bachelor’s degree make about 92 percent of the
amount that white peers earn over a lifetime. At the
master’s level, however, Hispanic workers close the
income gap.
For the complete results, visit http://cpe.ky.gov/data/
reports/earningsbrief-3.pdf.

Short-term certificates
have surged in Kentucky
For years, Kentucky has remained a national leader in
awarding certificates on a per capita basis, producing
credentials at nearly twice the national average. Now,
more Kentuckians are heading to college to earn
short-term certificates, particularly in STEM-related
fields, skilled trades and health care.
In two studies released June 10 by the Kentucky
Council on Postsecondary Education, researchers
found that the annual number of short-term
certificates awarded in Kentucky soared by more
than 110 percent between the 2005–06 and 2018–19
academic years. Overall, Kentucky colleges and
universities granted 27,144 certificates in 2018. That’s
more than 2.5 certificates for every associate’s degree.
The reports show that some of the greatest growth
has been in STEM fields, which include science,
technology, engineering and math. Between 2005 and
2018, the annual number of certificates awarded in
STEM climbed 275 percent, from 1,125 to 4,211.
However, skilled trades still comprise the largest share
of certificates, with about 12,000 awarded each year.
That category grew 127 percent during the period,
while certificates in health care were up about 88
percent over the same time.
Researchers also found that while students over the
age of 25 earned about 55 percent of all certificates
in 2018, students younger than 25 were the fastest
growing segment. About 62 percent of certificate
earners were males, and about 70 percent of earners
came from wealthier counties.
The reports also show that the proportion of certificate
earners who identified as Hispanic or Latinx increased
from about 3 percent to almost 5 percent during the
period. But the proportion who identified as black fell
from 9 percent to about 6 percent.
Unsure about education?
File the FAFSA anyway
Even students who aren’t sure if they want to get
technical training or go to college after finishing high
school should file the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid. The FAFSA will tell students how much
federal student aid they can expect if they do decide
to further their education.
The best way to file the FAFSA is online at https://
studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Students who
haven’t set up an account yet must first set up an
account at https://studentaid.gov/.
The FAFSA will ask students to provide information
about their income and assets. If they’re considered
dependent students — and nearly all recent high
school graduates are considered dependent —
their parents must also provide income and asset
information for the FAFSA.
Students must file the FAFSA to qualify for such
programs as Federal Pell Grants, Federal Direct
Loans, and Federal Work-Study. The form is also
used to apply for many Kentucky scholarship and
grant programs and for many financial aid programs
administered by colleges and trade schools.
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ACT National Test Dates
Test Date Registration Deadline Scores Available
September 11, 2021 August 6, 2021 TBD
October 23, 2021 September 17, 2021 TBD
December 11, 2021 November 5, 2021 TBD
February 12, 2022 January 7, 2022 TBD
April 2, 2022 February 25, 2022 TBD
June 11, 2022 May 6, 2022 TBD
July 16, 2022 June 17, 2022 TBD
SAT National Test Dates
August 28, 2021 TBD TBD
October 2, 2021 TBD TBD
November 6, 2021 TBD TBD
December 4, 2021 TBD TBD
March 12, 2022 TBD TBD
May 7, 2022 TBD TBD
June 4, 2022 TBD TBD