(Michigan City, IN) - There was more discussion last night about opening a scholarship program to additional students in Michigan City. Currently, families must live in Michigan City and own a home to qualify. Adding renters who live in the city is now being proposed.

City Councilman Angie Nelson Deuitch said adding renters makes good sense considering how they contribute to the community. “I just think it should be open to any resident of Michigan City as long as they go to school within Michigan City,” she said.

Resident Andrew White said he’s a lifelong renter, and renters should not be treated any differently. “Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to own a home, but there are a lot of us that have lived in this community for a long time, and I think that there’s a lot of us who’ve done a lot to contribute to this community,” White said.

Allowing students from parochial schools in Michigan City to qualify is also proposed.

Just a tiny percentage of students have been awarded scholarships since the program began four years ago. The $5,000 per year scholarships for high school graduates with a grade point average of 2.5 and higher are paid for with funds from Blue Chip casino.