Kentucky students aiming for higher education have a valuable resource at their disposal: the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES). Often referred to as Kees Money, this scholarship, managed by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA), provides financial aid to eligible Kentucky high school graduates to help them pursue their academic dreams within the Commonwealth.
For Kentucky residents graduating from eligible high schools, understanding how to access and maintain KEES money is crucial. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the KEES scholarship, from initial eligibility to renewal criteria, ensuring you can maximize this opportunity for your college education.
Understanding Your KEES Award as a New High School Graduate
If you’re a recent graduate from a Kentucky high school, accessing your initial KEES award is a straightforward process. There’s no need to apply directly for your KEES award as a new high school graduate. Your high school guidance counselor handles reporting all necessary information on your behalf. Once you gain admission and enroll at a Kentucky college or university, including institutions within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), your enrollment status will be automatically reported to KHEAA.
To keep track of your financial aid, including your KEES award, you can easily view your awards and account details through the KHEAA website. For managing your KCTCS academic information, the student portal at students.kctcs.edu is your go-to resource.
Maintaining Your KEES Money: Renewal Criteria for College Students
For students already in college and benefiting from the KEES scholarship, maintaining eligibility for continued KEES money is essential. The KEES program has specific renewal criteria that continuing students must meet to ensure they keep receiving their scholarship funds. Beyond being a Kentucky resident and actively pursuing a degree, KEES regulations stipulate that students must be making satisfactory academic progress, often referred to as being ‘on track’ to graduate.
At the close of each spring semester, your academic standing, including your cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) and ‘on track’ status, is reported to KHEAA. This evaluation determines your KEES award for the upcoming academic year. Here’s a breakdown of the GPA requirements and their impact on your KEES money:
- GPA of 3.0 or Higher: Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher will receive their full KEES award amount.
- GPA between 2.50 and 2.99: Students in this GPA range can still receive their full renewal KEES award if they meet the ‘on track to graduate’ requirement. However, if a student has a GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 but does not meet the ‘on track’ criteria, their KEES award will be reduced to 50% of the full renewal amount.
- GPA Below 2.5: If your cumulative GPA falls below 2.5, you will unfortunately lose your KEES award eligibility for the following academic year.
KCTCS ‘On Track to Graduate’ Requirements Explained
The ‘on track to graduate’ requirement is particularly relevant for students with a GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 after their second year (four semesters) of college. Meeting these benchmarks ensures that students are progressing adequately towards graduation and can receive their full KEES money. The requirements are structured based on the number of semesters completed:
| Student Progress | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Completed four semesters | Must have earned at least 48 credit hours |
| Completed five semesters | Must have earned at least 60 credit hours |
| Completed six semesters | Must have earned at least 72 credit hours |
| Completed more than six semesters | Not on Track |
It’s important to note that KEES renewal GPA and ‘on track to graduate’ status are assessed annually at the end of each academic year in May. Only credits earned during the Fall and Spring semesters contribute to your GPA and ‘on track’ status for KEES purposes. Credits earned during summer semesters are considered for the subsequent academic year’s evaluation.
To summarize the renewal scenarios:
- Students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher receive the full KEES award.
- Students with a GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 meeting the ‘on track’ requirements also receive the full KEES award.
- Students with a GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 not meeting ‘on track’ requirements, but who were enrolled full-time for at least one semester in the previous academic year, will receive a reduced KEES award, set at 50% of the full amount.
- Students with a GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 not meeting ‘on track’ requirements and who attended part-time for both semesters of the previous academic year will lose their KEES award for the next academic year.
- Students with a GPA below 2.50 will lose their KEES award for the next academic year.
It’s also crucial to remember that Dual Credit courses taken in high school do not count towards your college KEES renewal GPA or ‘on track to graduate’ status, as these credits were already factored into your high school GPA for determining your initial KEES base award.
Reinstating Your KEES Scholarship
If you previously lost your KEES award due to a GPA below 2.5 but have since improved your cumulative GPA while attending KCTCS, there’s a pathway to reinstatement. In such cases, it’s important to proactively contact the financial aid office at your KCTCS institution. They may need to manually report your updated GPA to KHEAA to reinstate your eligibility for KEES money.
Understanding KEES Award Amounts and Enrollment Status
The estimated KEES award amounts are typically calculated based on full-time enrollment. However, the actual KEES award you receive will be precisely determined by your enrollment status after the last day to add a class in each Fall and Spring semester. This ensures that the award accurately reflects your enrolled credit hours for each term.
KEES Award Percentages for Part-Time Enrollment
For students enrolled less than full-time, specifically between 6 to 11 credit hours, the KEES award is disbursed at a percentage of the full-time award. The percentage varies based on the number of enrolled hours:
| Enrolled Hours | Award Percentage |
|---|---|
| Six | 50% |
| Seven | 58% |
| Eight | 67% |
| Nine | 75% |
| Ten | 83% |
| Eleven | 92% |
Students enrolled in 1 to 5 credit hours are not eligible for a KEES award. Furthermore, it’s vital to keep in mind that your KEES award has an expiration timeline. If you do not utilize your KEES funds within five years of your high school graduation, the award expires.
KEES Opportunities for Home School and GED® Graduates
The KEES scholarship extends opportunities to students who have graduated from a home school setting or obtained a GED®. While the standard KEES award is based on high school GPA, home school and GED graduates may be eligible for a KEES ACT Supplemental Bonus.
Home School Students: To qualify for the KEES ACT bonus, home school graduates must:
- Achieve an ACT composite score of 15 or higher (or SAT score of 710 or better) on a national exam.
- Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident.
- Be a Kentucky resident, meeting specific residency criteria.
- Not have a felony conviction.
For home school students to receive this ACT Supplemental Bonus, they must be manually reported to KHEAA.
GED® Students: Similarly, GED graduates can also be eligible for a KEES ACT Supplemental Bonus, with slightly different criteria:
- Achieve an ACT composite score of 15 or higher (or SAT score of 710 or better) on a national exam.
- Have turned 18 years old on or after January 1, 1999.
- Earned a GED® in Kentucky within five years of turning 18.
- Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident.
- Be a Kentucky resident.
- Enroll in a participating college within five years of receiving their GED®.
- Not have a felony conviction.
GED® students, like home school students, also require manual reporting to KHEAA to receive their ACT Supplemental Bonus.
Conclusion: Maximizing Your KEES Money Potential
The Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship is a significant opportunity for Kentucky students to finance their higher education. By understanding the eligibility requirements, renewal criteria, and specific provisions for different student categories, you can effectively leverage KEES money to achieve your academic goals. Whether you are a recent high school graduate, a continuing college student, a home school graduate, or a GED recipient, exploring the KEES scholarship is a worthwhile step in planning your educational future in Kentucky.
