LA GRANDE – A new scholarship is available to students enrolling at Eastern Oregon University.

The Eastern Oregon 10-County Award is for students from 10 eastern Oregon counties, who will be eligible to receive up to $1,000 in financial assistance from EOU.

Beginning fall 2008, awards will be given to new students from Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler counties. Students must live on campus to be eligible.

“We’re really excited about the prospect of being able to help students who are from our own ‘backyard,'” said Danny Aynes, admissions director at EOU.

Amounts will range from $500 for students who have already received awards from EOU, to $1,000 for students who have not received any other awards from the university. Eligible students are identified based on the admissions process.

The Financial Aid Office at EOU has identified approximately 75 students who have been admitted from the 10-county area who will be eligible to receive awards.

Students from the 10-county area are encouraged to apply for admission as soon as possible, as a priority deadline of May 1 has been set. Awards given after the May 1 deadline will be dependent on continued fund availability.

“The payback that students receive by living in the residence halls in terms of academic success, graduation, satisfaction with their campus experience and campus involvement are well documented,” said Stephen Jenkins, director of Residence Life at EOU. “I am thrilled that we can reach out to even more students and have them benefit from living on campus.”

For more information contact the Admissions Office at (541) 962-3393, toll free at 800-452-8639 or e-mail admissions@eou.edu.