U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar was at South Texas College’s Pecan Campus in McAllen to announce that more Pell Grant funding will be available for all students in the United States. From left are The University of Texas-Pan American Interim President Dr. Charles A. Sorber, STC President Shirley A. Reed and U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar.

U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (Texas-28) was at South Texas College’s Pecan Campus in McAllen on Tuesday morning to announce that more Pell Grant funding will be available for all students in the United States. Starting July 1, 2009 the amount of Pell Grant funding available to each qualifying student will increase by $600 per academic year, for a total of $5,350.

This news is particularly important to the 11,569 of South Texas College’s more than 22,000 students who take advantage of Pell Grants to fund their higher educations. To be eligible for the funds students must meet some qualifications including having a valid social security number, have earned a high school degree or GED, and demonstrate financial need, just to name a few.

“Providing affordable and convenient access to quality higher education to the residents from Hidalgo and Starr counties has always been a priority for me,” said Dr. Shirley A. Reed, STC president. “The increased funding for Pell Grants will be of tremendous help to the thousands of students at South Texas College who have made the heroic decision to attend college. It provides students the opportunity to begin their career pathways towards a better quality of life for themselves and their families.”

More than six million U.S. students receive Pell Grants each year and of these students, 75 percent have family incomes below $30,000. And another 37 percent of the recipients are Hispanic.

“Education is the key to success in any community,” said Cuellar. “Well skilled, well educated individuals make for a better society and higher education is the greatest equalizer we have in society. Don’t use money as an excuse not to go to college.”

The increase in grant funds was made possible through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act recently passed by the 111th Congress.

For more information about college funding opportunities in Texas visit www.collegeforalltexans.com or call 888-311-8881. For more information about financial aid available to attend South Texas College visit www.southtexascollege.edu or call 956-872-8375.