BY HELEN HEADLEE

ONLINE REPORTER

BATON ROUGE, La.—The budget for this school year has not cut university scholarships, but scholarships based on endowment, like the Bengal Legacy Scholarship, the Board of Supervisors scholarships and the Louisiana Freshman Merit Award have been cut by $3.5 million.

The LSU Foundation donors put money into the stock market so it can mature and be donated. Unfortunately, after the market went down, much of that money was lost.

“I was shocked when I found out,” said theater junior Ross Childs, who received the Bengal Legacy Scholarship. “I didn’t think I’d lose any scholarship money.”

University officials say they tried to save as much money in the scholarship funds and cut from other places.

“We did work to find funding in other areas where possible,” said Mandy Hoffman, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Aid.

However, some students say plans may be put on hold.

“My parents can get the rest with money we had saved for college,” Business freshman Jared Greco said. “But it could delay my plans for grad school.”

So far lost scholarship money has not kept students from attending LSU. The University is working to attract and keep all qualified students regardless of financial situation.