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Students from eight state universities are asking lawmakers to vote for funding and scholarship changes. The ENLACE Student Delegation walked the halls at the state capitol today trying to get their message to lawmakers. The students want lawmakers to support a bill allowing universities to raise tuition 15 percent. They also want the state to raise GPA and SAT standards for the Bright Futures Scholarship program. University of South Florida Senior Frank Hernandez said if Bright Futures standards remain low the scholarship program run out of money.

“I think because of the current status, right now, the numbers are showing 80 percent of students enrolled in college right now are receiving Bright Futures. That number is way too high, not to say these students aren’t showing great merit, but the program, it might fail to the point were it might be eliminated completely and that’s not what we want to happen,” said Hernandez.

The students say they only support the tuition hike because of provisions that require the money to be spent on undergraduate programs and financial aid. They are urging lawmakers to leave those provisions in the bill.