| Press Releases |
September 18, 2009 On Sept. 8, the Burleson 4A Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Burleson City Council ratified a resolution in support of a $60,000 donation from the EDC to the Burleson Opportunity Fund. The money is available through the 4A Sales Tax Fund. In 2008, the City contributed $25,000 in seed money to the Burleson Opportunity Fund from the City’s gas well revenues. Last year, the school district matched the City with critical in-kind commitments. Approximately $73,900 was donated to the Burleson Opportunity Fund in 2008 by community groups and businesses as well as the City. The scholarships, which covered tuition and fees, funded 32 credit hours per student. Each awardee is required to take a minimum of 12 hours per semester at Hill College. Twenty-seven students from Burleson High School and Crossroads High School were tapped for scholarships in 2008. In 2009, 39 students were awarded Burleson Opportunity Fund scholarships to Hill College. The scholarship winners include Nickolas Alvarado, Audrey Beckler, Drew Blain, Taylor Boiles, Angela Clark, Stephanie Craig, Jessica Dishman, Emily Evans, Alex Farnan, Christopher Gauntt, Randy Griffin, Jamison Hall, Randi Helm, Cortney Hill, Carly Rae Johnson, Ashley Lemons, James Lewis, Joshua Lewis, Mitchell Lott, Brittany Lozier, Tamarah Martinez, Mylea Mauney, Casey McWhirter, Ashley Meek, Jacob Menken, Richard Morton, Christopher Mueller, Casey Owings, Amanda Powell, Meghan Rhoades, Aaron Schulter, Jacob Strickland, Megan Thomas, Victoria Thomas, Brittany Tomer, Zach Tucker, Ryan Vernon, John Weems and Sarah Wood. Students from this group plan to pursue degrees in the medical field, education, criminal justice and liberal arts. The Development Corporation Act grants the 4A Corporation the rights, powers, privileges, authorities and functions given by the laws of Texas to nonprofit corporations. As a nonprofit, the 4A Corporation may make donations for educational purposes. Charitable donations to the Burleson Opportunity Fund are permissible because the fund was created for educational purposes as a non-profit corporation; the 4A Corporation has the power to make donations for educational purposes; and the donation promotes higher education opportunities that will “encourage and foster the development and diversification of the economy and elimination of unemployment and underemployment.” For more information about the Burleson Opportunity Fund, contact Kellye Cunningham, assistant to the city manager, 817-426-9682 or log on to www.burlesonOppFund.com. November 11, 2008 The City of Burleson is getting national attention at the National League of Cities 2008 Congress of Cities and Exposition in Orlando, Fla., this week. On Saturday, Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter will join the mayors of Springfield, Ill., and Denver, Colo., to discuss innovative city responses to the high school dropout crisis. Burleson and Denver are involved in college scholarship funds. The Burleson Opportunity Fund was discussed in early 2007. The goal was to grant a few scholarships in 2008, then, in a few years, work to ensure that every Burleson student graduating from high school has access to at least a community college education. In the inaugural year, 27 high school graduates accepted a financial boost for college. More than $80,000 was donated to the Burleson Opportunity Fund by community groups and businesses as well as the City of Burleson, Hill College, and the Burleson Independent School District. The scholarships, which cover tuition and fees, fund 32 credit hours per student. Recipients must take a minimum of 12 hours per semester. Any Burleson resident who has graduated from an accredited high school or home school association who wants to attend Hill College is eligible. Those scholarship recipients must maintain a satisfactory grade point average to retain their scholarship eligibility and must apply for federal financial aid (via the FAFSA) to be eligible for the Burleson Opportunity Fund scholarship. The City of Burleson is well represented at the 2008 Congress of Cities and Exposition. In addition to the mayor, those attending include Mayor Pro Tem Stuart Gillaspie, council members Jim Wadlow, Dan McClendon and Chip Stephens, Deputy City Manager Paul Cain, City Secretary Amanda McCrory, Management Assistant Kellye Cunningham and two members of the Mayor’s Youth Council. Youth council members, Caitlan Smelley, vice chairman, and A’ndra Ancy will attend the same workshops as the city council members, but they will also participate in a youth forum. The Congress of Cities and Exposition offers Leadership Training Institute Seminars, peer-to-peer networking, workshops, showcases, and an exposition hall. The event is touted as the premier skills building and knowledge sharing event for city officials and employees. For more information about this release, call the public information office at 817-447-5400, ext. 286. More Press Releases... September 19, 2008 With the appointment of the community-at-large members, the Burleson Opportunity Fund board of directors is now complete. August 14, 2008 Thirty high school graduates earned a financial boost for college thanks to the Burleson Opportunity Fund. May 7, 2008 For Burleson Class of 2008 graduates looking for financial assistance to Hill College, the Burleson Opportunity Fund is now available.
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