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SOWELA Technical Community College

MJ Foster Promise

MJ Foster Promise Program

Eligible students can participate in the MJ Foster Promise Program, a financial aid award given on a first-come, first-served basis. Promise funds can be used over a three-year period to cover tuition and fees. The award amount is a maximum of $3,200 per award year with a lifetime maximum benefit of $6,400.

Promise funds are a “first dollar” award for 1st time recipients. This means that “first dollar” can ONLY be used for the very 1st semester of eligibility. Any subsequent semesters of enrollment will be a “Last Dollar” award.

Any continuing recipients of the Promise Award will be considered “last dollar”, meaning applicants who have received an initial semester of the award must complete the FAFSA PRIOR to the start of their 2nd semester to determine eligibility for other sources of federal aid or demonstrate eligibility for federal aid.

MJ Foster Promise Logo

Students must be enrolled in one of the following SOWELA programs to participate.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for an M.J. Foster Promise Award, a student must:

  • Be 21 years of age as of the date the student completes the M.J. Foster Promise application.
  • Have earned a high school diploma or equivalent or co-enroll in a qualified program of study and in a program to earn a high school credential that is recognized by the state of Louisiana.
  • Be a U.S. Citizen and a Louisiana Resident*
  • Have not previously earned an undergraduate degree at the associate level or above.
  • Must complete the MJ Foster Program Award Application
  • Must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year in which they will be enrolled if enrolled in a program that is Title IV eligible as determined by the school and following the initial payment of the award.
  • If a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces and been separated from service, have received an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions.
  • Meet the admission requirements of the institution the student plans to attend; and
  • Enroll and remain enrolled in an eligible program of study through the 14th class day at semester schools, or, for any qualifying summer sessions, students attending proprietary schools, and students enrolled in a program that is not provided on a traditional semester/term basis, through the end of the last day to drop and receive a full refund for the course of study in which enrolled.
  • Agree to reside and work full time in Louisiana for a minimum of one year after the completion of the last program of study for which funding is received.

The student must also certify that:

  • They are not currently imprisoned; and
  • They have not been convicted of a violent crime (Those convicted of a violent crime, but not incarcerated for that crime are ineligible.);and
  • They have a family income that does not exceed three hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines; or certify that they are currently unemployed or have been underemployed for a period of at least six months prior to the date they would receive an award.

*The student must have actually lived and resided in Louisiana for 24 months prior to completing the FAFSA to be considered a Louisiana resident for the MJ Foster Promise Program. If the student was a veteran of the United States Armed Forces who received an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions, and after separating from active duty, must become a Louisiana resident within 24 months prior to the application date.

Maintaining Eligibility

To maintain eligibility to receive an M.J. Foster Promise Award, a recipient must:

  • Annually complete the FAFSA if enrolled in a program that is Title IV eligible as determined by the school in which enrolled.
  • Annually complete the on-line application for an M.J. Foster Promise Program award.
  • Make steady academic progress
  • Remain in good academic standing at the school in which enrolled.
  • Maintain continuous enrollment, unless granted an exception
  • Maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 calculated on a 4.00 scale in a qualified program for which letter grades are issued.
  • Maintain steady academic progress in a qualified program for which letter grades are not issued.
  • Not be incarcerated and not have a conviction for any violent crime
  • Those convicted of a violent crime, but not incarcerated for that crime are ineligible.
  • If a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces and been separated from service, have received an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions.
  • Have received the award for not more than three consecutive academic years unless granted an exception
  • Have not used the award to earn more than sixty (60) hours of college credit.

A recipient may continue to receive an award under this section after they have completed one or more qualified programs of study other than an associate degree if:

  • They continue to meet all of the continuing eligibility requirements
  • They have not exhausted the maximum award eligibility of six thousand four hundred dollars ($6,400).
  • They have not received the award for three years.

How to Apply

Learn More

For more information, contact SOWELA’s One Stop Enrollment Center at (337) 421-6550 or onestop@sowela.edu.