(Michigan City, IN) - Children of people who rent their homes in Michigan City could qualify for college scholarships given away by the city.

 

Since the “Promise Scholarships” were created with riverboat proceeds five years ago, only Michigan City High School graduates whose parents or guardians owned their homes were eligible.

 

Last night, preliminary approval was given by the city council for children of renters to also qualify for the $5,000 a year scholarships. The goal is to help more students pay for college and attract students going to school elsewhere back to Michigan City.

 

Statistics presented by Councilwoman Angie Nelson Deuitch revealed 155 high school students from Michigan City are going to schools in Westville, La Porte, and Chesterton. Over half of those students are traveling to school in Westville.

 

“Many of these people are renters and maybe we’ll get those renters back to Michigan City High School. We won’t know until we try,” she said.

The proposal also allows students at Marquette High School to become eligible for the scholarships as long as they’re living in the city.

 

Final approval of the changes is expected by the city council next month. Officials said the number of scholarship recipients since the program began has been disappointing and blamed the restrictions for the inadequate response.