Arkansas Lottery, Somebody Is Going To Win

Commentary Editor

   Cha-ching! A sound being heard across the great state of Arkansas as people prepare for the lottery in hopes of “hitting it big.” Ticket sales start Sept.28.

   Although the state of Arkansas may be feeding their residents gambling addiction, in the end someone will win. Keep in mind it may not be you (the gambler), however if you are a student or a prospective student, your chances of winning increase dramatically. 

   According to hopeforarkansas.gov, 25-30% of the revenue will be used to fund public programs which will go towards education.

   The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery hopes to produce sufficient revenue to provide an annual $5,000 scholarship to students enrolled in a four-year college or university and an annual $2,500 scholarship to students enrolled in a two-year college. The first lottery scholarships will be available in the Fall of 2010.

   The following qualifications will increase your chances of receiving a Hope Scholarship:

• You are an Arkansas high school graduate.
• You have achieved a 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA) or higher.
• You are admitted to a college or university in Arkansas.

 
   Non-traditional students will be eligible for the scholarship as well. Along with the previous qualifications, students should have completed at least 12 semester hours at a two-year or four-year college or university and have a 2.5 GPA or higher.

   Some of you may be a little leery about the proceeds but Section 14 of Article 19 of the Constitution of the State of Arkansas says all proceeds shall be used solely to pay the operating expenses of lotteries including all prizes and to fund or provide scholarships and grants to citizens of this state enrolled in public or private two or four-year colleges and universities. 

   We will just keep our fingers crossed hoping there aren’t any loop holes. 

   The state Department of Finance and Administration has estimated the net lottery proceeds to be $55 million a year and at that rate, scholarships will amount to an estimated $14 million each year after prizes and expenses are paid.

   Students who go off to school are less likely to return home. Limiting the scholarship to Arkansas colleges and universities will hopefully increase the educational status in Arkansas. 

   Zig Ziglar, an author and motivational speaker, once said, “You can have everything in life that you want if you just give enough other people what they want.” People voted for the lottery and got what they wanted, now it’s up to everyone else to seize the opportunity.

   While heading to your local scratch-off ticket provider, please don’t use the excuse of “providing scholarships” to gamble your grocery money away. Keep your priorities straight.

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