Some BHC students got to meet Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker when he stopped by the Quad-Cities Campus June 6 for a news conference about higher education funding.
The state’s fiscal year 2024 budget includes a $19.4 million increase in community college funding and a $100 million increase in Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant funding.
2023 BHC grad Lauren Rogan spoke about the impact of receiving a MAP grant.
“During the first few months of school, I was working a full-time job as well as going to school full time. I received a MAP grant and I was able to take a part-time job at the school and focus on my studies,” Rogan said.
“This helped me to feel comfortable joining the Honors Program at Black Hawk, and I was able to maintain my grades to become a member of Phi Theta Kappa (honor society).
“Most importantly, I was able to graduate debt free,” she said.
Rogan is transferring to the University of Illinois Springfield where she also will be a MAP grant recipient.
After the news conference, a group of students from the college’s Multicultural Entrepreneurial Center also had a chance to talk to the governor.
View more photos from the news conference on Facebook.
Media coverage:
- Dispatch/Argus/Quad-City Times – Gov. JB Pritzker touts education spending in new budget during Moline stop
- KWQC – Pritzker visits Black Hawk College to highlight investments in education
- Quad Cities Regional Business Journal – Pritzker touts budget, record higher education investment
- WHBF – New state funding helps Illinois students focus on studies, not paying for classes
- WQAD – Pritzker stops in Moline to promote Illinois budget for higher education
- WVIK – New Money in State Budget for Higher Education