SENIORS GET MORE THAN $630,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

Graduates from Cape Girardeau Central High School and Notre Dame High School are worth more than a half-million dollars in scholarships.

Seniors from the two schools have been offered scholarships of more than $630,000.

Commencement is tonight for both Cape Girardeau high schools.

Central High seniors will graduate at 8 p.m. at the Show Me Center. Judge John Grimm is the commencement speaker. The most recent number of potential graduates was 248, but school officials said the number will be lower. Final figures weren't available until today.

Sixty-four Notre Dame seniors will graduate at 7:30 p.m. at the school gymnasium. Dr. Richard Janet, a professor at Rockhurst College in Kansas City, is the speaker. Janet is a Notre Dame alumnus.

Jerry Witvoet, counselor at Central High, said seniors at the school have accepted $250,000 in scholarships. The total is for academic scholarships only. Scholarships accepted for music or athletics aren't included. And those scholarships haven't been tallied.

When renewal scholarships are figured over four years, the Class of 1995 will have earned $990,000 in scholarships.

In addition, more than $200,000 in scholarships have been offered to Central High students but won't be used. Students might receive offers of scholarships to two different schools. One couldn't be used.

Witvoet said the figure reflects one-time scholarships for $250 or $1,000 up through a Naval Academy appointment, valued at more than $150,000 a year.

"We have a very talented, capable group of seniors," Witvoet. "I think these kids have worked very hard."

The scholarship dollars reflect the quality of education provided by Cape Girardeau schools.

Notre Dame Principal Sister Mary Ann Fischer said $180,000 in scholarships have been offered to the school's 64 graduates.

She didn't know how many of these scholarships would be accepted.

"Some of the kids are still trying to decide which schools they will attend," Fischer said.

The total includes both academic and athletic scholarships offered to students.

Fischer said the total speaks well for the 64 graduates.

She said it also shows that if students take the initiative and apply for scholarships, they can receive a scholarship.

"Many scholarship are out there for the students," Fischer said. "College expenses just keep rising, and students who take the initiative and make the effort to apply are successful."