DRUG, ALCOHOL CONVICTIONS CAN MEAN NO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR S.C. STUDENTS

Last week, I dedicated this article to the ills of teenage driving offenses
involving drugs and alcohol. More specifically, I talked directly about the
Zero Tolerance law and the strict 0.02 percent blood alcohol concentration
limitations and penalties for individual drivers under the age of 21.

In keeping with this extended season of teenagers approaching the end of
the school year, when they are more apt to be negatively influenced into
making severe judgment errors, I thought we should explore another area
that could financially affect their entire family.

What I'm referring to is the loss of South Carolina need-based grants for
college because of a criminal conviction. Section 59-142-10 of the South
Carolina Code of Laws indicates the following: The State shall fund a
need-based grant for a student who enrolls as an undergraduate in a public
institution of higher learning in this state and who meets the requirements
set forth. One of those requirements is that the student making application
has not been adjudicated delinquent or been convicted of or pleaded guilty
to any felonies or any alcohol-or drug-related offenses under the laws of
this or any other state. Being adjudicated (court determined) delinquent or
having a felony on your record is pretty much self-explanatory, so let me
expand upon alcohol- and drug-related offenses.

Please read this closely! If the student who is attempting to obtain a
need-based grant has ever been convicted of any type of drinking and
driving, minor in possession of alcohol, public consumption, or any other
alcohol-related charge or drug-related offense (including simple
possession), he or she will not be eligible for a grant.

Put your thinking caps on now, kids. Your senior beer/liquor bash party, or
smoking a little weed with your buddies, while not only unlawful and
unhealthy, will cause you to lose a state grant for college. I don't now
about you, but the grants I received when I was in college were of great
assistance to me financially, and I surely would have struggled without them.

So students, in addressing you directly, I guess what you have to do is
make the decision for yourself. Do you allow others to pressure you into
doing something stupid during this season, or do you act responsibly and
leave all that stuff that can get you into big trouble alone?

I guarantee you that, just like every year, students in our area will be
caught committing violations of this nature and they will lose their
much-needed financial assistance for college.

Please don't count yourself into these numbers. Do the right thing by
staying away from unlawful activities and keep your educational plans on track.

From the Florence Police Department, have a great week.