States from California to Maine use lottery revenues to support public education. The money collected from lottery tickets and scratch-off games is distributed to local school districts and universities. Students searching for ways to pay for their college tuition and fees should learn more about their state’s lottery scholarships.

Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program

The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program offers up to $4,000 per academic year to recipients. Applicants must be dependents of National Guard enlistees or Department of Defense workers and have lived in Tennessee for at least one year to qualify. This state scholarship program is applicable at any Tennessee community college or university. The scholarship committee reviews recipient transcripts each semester to ensure a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and continued enrollment. The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship can be renewed for up to 96 credit hours or four years of higher education.

New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship

The New Mexico Lottery covers the full tuition for recipients of the New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship. This program only covers tuition, though students can renew their scholarships for a maximum of eight semesters. Minimum requirements for the Legislative Lottery Scholarship include state residency, graduation from a New Mexico high school and a minimum 2.5 grade point average in the first semester of college. Students can use this scholarship for community colleges and four-year universities in New Mexico. The Legislative Lottery Scholarship is flexible enough to be transferred from one school to another even if the new school charges a higher tuition.

New York Lottery Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship

The New York Lottery issues its Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship to one exceptional applicant at every high school in the state of New York. This $5,000 scholarship is distributed evenly over eight semesters to cover tuition and living costs. Each applicant must be a graduating high school senior with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for at least seven semesters. The scholarship committee also considers community service and extracurricular activities. Recipients of the Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship must attend a New York college or university and maintain a 3.0 grade point average as long as they have the scholarship.

Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship

The Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship offers $2,500 to community college recipients and $5,000 to four-year college recipients. Applicants to the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship must be state residents for at least a year. The lottery does not award scholarships to students with defaults on student loans or degrees beyond high school. Recipients must continue their academic excellence by maintaining a minimum 2.5 grade point average from high school through college. The Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship requires recipients to complete 12 credit hours in their first semesters and 15 credit hours thereafter.

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