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The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship, a federally funded program administered by the State of Michigan, Office of Scholarships and Grants (OSG), is now available to home-schooled students in Michigan. The U.S. Department of Education announced the change in merit-based program following enactment of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.

The Byrd Honors Scholarship was established to promote student excellence and recognize exceptional students who show the promise of continued achievement. The merit-based scholarship provides approximately 230, renewable scholarships, annually. The class of 2009 is the first in which home-schooled students will be eligible for the scholarship. Parents of home-schooled students can obtain a nomination form by visiting the Web site at: www.michigan.gov/osg. Nominations are due to the OSG/Dept. of Ed by March 6, 2009.

Each spring, high school principals nominate one outstanding graduating senior, based on high school academic achievement and the student's Michigan Merit Exam (MME) score. Nominations are accepted from Michigan public and private school principals and counselors as well as from principals/counselors at non-Michigan schools attended by Michigan residents.

Students who are selected for the scholarship will receive an award letter from the Office of Scholarships and Grants. Student must then return a certification form indicating where they will attend college. The financial resources of the student or the student's family do not factor into the selection. Federal law requires that awards be distributed geographically.

For more information, call the Office of Scholarships and Grants at 1-888-4-GRANTS (1-888-447-2687) or e-mail at osg@michigan.gov.