The Scratch

Grants from Nebraska Lottery funds open up a world of Opportunity

Playing the Nebraska Lottery does more than just give you the chance to put a giant check in your pocket. In fact, the money that is spent on the various Scratch tickets and Lotto games funds different charitable organizations.

One of those funds is the Nebraska Opportunity Grant (NOG). The Opportunity Grant is money that is set aside by Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education (CCPE) for helping students in need. The money is distributed to colleges and universities throughout the state, who then give it to chosen applicants.

Ritchie Morrow, Financial Aid Officer with CCPE, said the money received from the grant can be used for any college educational expense. This includes tuition, housing, textbooks and more.

“Unfortunately it’s not guaranteed that you’ll receive money if you apply,” he said. “It’s only able to help around a third of the students that qualify due to fund limits.”

To qualify, students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which will determine if they have the minimum Expected Family Contribution. Students must be attending a college or university in Nebraska and be a Nebraska resident.

The University of Nebraska receives the largest share of money from the grant- receiving approximately 37 percent during the 2018-19 year. State colleges, community colleges and other post-secondary education institutions receive the remaining amount, ready to be distributed to their students.

One of these schools is Central Community College, where Ruth Godejohn attends. She’s a student from Shelby, who is attending school to study hospital administration.

“It helped when we were scraping the bottom of our pockets to find the money for gas and food,” Godejohn said. “It seemed to have arrived at the perfect moment- especially when you have a whole other week till payday.”

Godejohn is planning on transferring to UNO to continue to work towards her bachelor’s degree. After earning her degree, she is hoping to pursue work at the Children’s Hospital or Methodist Hospitals.

“I have had two family members that were in and out of there numerous times. The staff there were all incredible,” she said.

Joseph Blattner, also attending Central Community College, received an opportunity grant as well. Blattner is studying to become a hospital lab technician but is going for a very different reason than Godejohn.

“I had amputated my hand at work when I was 42,” Blattner said. “I needed a career change and I figured that the medical field is always going to be there.”

Blattner is a full-time student who also works part-time. He says that the money he received from the grant helped him keep up with his bills and buy some textbooks and a computer for school.

Xenon Academy in Omaha also helps students with the Nebraska Opportunity Grant. Kirsten Schutz attends the cosmetology school because of her passion for makeup and skincare. She found out about the grant from the business administrator at Xenon and was excited when she received it.

“I am so grateful for this grant,” she said. “Thanks to it I have minimal debt and I get to do what I love.”

The Nebraska Opportunity Grant helped just under 13,000 students pay for their post-secondary education last year. Funding for the grant comes from a combination of Nebraska Lottery earnings and money from the state.

A share of Nebraska Lottery proceeds equal to 44.5 percent is dedicated to educational purposes, as determined by the Legislature. Currently, the Nebraska Education Improvement Fund receives all of the lottery proceeds dedicated to education and distributes these funds to other educational programs, such as the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Program.

Administered by the Coordinating Commission for Post-Secondary Education, the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Program offers need-based scholarships to students in the University of Nebraska System, Nebraska State College System, and Community College System. Numerous private career schools also participate in the program, which receives a combination of federal funds, State General Fund dollars and Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Want to find out more about how the Nebraska Lottery supports our state? Follow this link: https://nelottery.com/homeapp/static/shared/halfbillion/index.html