As part of its efforts to give hope to the hopeless and ensure that Liberians from all walks of life achieve quality and higher education, the Masonic Craft in Central Monrovia has awarded scholarships to at least 27 students in various public and private high schools as well as universities, operating in the country.  A member of the Masonic craft, Charles Collins who talked to this paper this week explained that the scholarship program is intended to help deserving students who are both children of Freemasons as well as non-Masonic members and moreover, the program is designed to offer scholarships to students who make at least a C+ average.According to Mr. Collins, in partial fulfillment of the tenets of Freemasonry to contribute to Charity and benevolent activities in the society, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons, George E. Henries, 33 ordered that a scholarship program be developed, implemented and financed by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Masons in Liberia. 

He said it was based on this that a Committee headed by Rt. Worshipful Jeremiah W. Walker was appointed to formulate and develop a Proposed Scholarship Program and have same submitted to the Grand Lodge for consideration and approval.Mr. Collins further stated that the committee worked assiduously to develop such a program and later submitted its findings to the Grand Master for approval. He said following the approval the program commenced in January 2007, with 50% of the scholarships awards being reserved for students with Masonic attachment, including males and females. Giving some explanations on means by which one could be accepted for the scholarship program; Mr. Collins said a college student must have carried at least 15 credit hours with a C+ average the semester prior to awarding the scholarship, and must maintain this trend throughout the program to remain eligible. 

He pointed out that a student who receives two failing grades after becoming a recipient of the program will automatically be dropped from the program but with one failing grade, the student would be served a warning letter, and  a repeat of such score will warrant being dropped from the program. “He or she may apply in the future when the grades improve,” he added. According to him, based on the student's academic records and a signed academic program for the ensuring semester, payments will be made by the Craft directly to the school's finance office with the proviso that if the student should drop a course during the “add and drop period,” the Committee will be informed and accordingly reimbursed by the school, “this means that a student must never receive a refund from the school for dropping a course.”