[iDiversity] Husky Voices! Help Preserve State Funded Financial Aid

[Cynthia del Rosario]

-----Original Message-----
From: On Behalf Of ecc-t at u.washington.edu

My name is Ty Huynh Chhor, and I am part of a student-led effort to 
preserve state funding for financial aid.  Our project is called Husky 
Voices, and our goal is to have our fellow Husky's voices heard by the 
people who are in position to preserve state-funded financial aid.  We 
are reaching out to students from a variety of economic backgrounds to 
help them contact their representatives down in Olympia.  We are helping 
students share their stories about how the budget cuts will impact their 
education and ability to pay for school next year.

I wanted to provide you with a brief summary of the state budget:

*  Current budget proposals would suspend the State Need Grant (which 
helps support Husky Promise), work study program, as well as several 
merit based financial aid programs, such as WAVE and Washington Scholars.

*  Governor Gregoire has asked the State Legislature to pass new taxes 
to fully fund the State Need Grant, but the House and Senate have yet to 
make such a proposal.

*  Even if the State Legislature does propose new revenue, it is 
uncertain whether that money will go toward higher education.  That's 
where our Husky Voices can make a positive impact.

While many students are lobbying in Olympia on Higher Education Advocacy 
Day, an additional and effective advocacy approach is to contact 
representatives via letter/email.

Our plan is to get enough students to contact their representatives via 
email with not just letters... but also with VIDEO TESTIMONIES of the 
benefit they receive from state-funded financial aid. We believe in 
keeping all testimonies confidential, unless authorized by the student.

If you are interested in participating, please contact me at 
beheard at huskyvoices.com.* If you have questions, please feel free to 
contact me.

Husky Voices is here to help you, so we will work according to your 
schedule.

Thank you,

Ty Huynh Chhor

*Currently, our website is under construction, but the email should work 
just fine.
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