The governor's message is to "use common sense and when these issues come up; you deal with them and make adjustments," she said.

"We wouldn't put something in place that was so restrictive it didn't make sense," she said.

South Charleston senior Kinsey Walker doesn't believe students should be punished after they do well in high school. Walker's sister, Karley, a sophomore, is especially worried about having to stay in state or pay the scholarship back.

"There shouldn't be any strings attached," St. Albans junior Maria Belcher said.

Kenny Roberson, also a junior at St. Albans, said state lawmakers should bring more high-paying jobs to West Virginia so students don't have to make such a difficult decision after high school or college.

"It's a Promise scholarship," he said. "It's not a Promise-maybe scholarship."

Two Capital students disagreed. Senior Mark Radow believes Manchin's plan would keep more doctors, lawyers and other professionals in the state after graduation.

Senior Kasey Fields said Manchin's plan is in tune with the original intent of Promise: To keep more students in West Virginia. A student who accepts a Promise scholarship simply needs to know what she signed up for, Fields said.

Fields is the exception on both issues. She disagrees with Manchin's plan that calls for students to maintain a "C" average or lose their driver's license.

No "C" average, no license

"If someone had a death in the family or an illness it may be hard for them to maintain a 'C' average," Fields said. "I don't think it's right."

Radow believes a "C," or 2.0 grade point average, is not too demanding. Still, he knows it may be difficult for students who work a job after school. Without a license, won't it be harder to get to work?

Jamie Williams said students without a 2.0 shouldn't have jobs.

"That would take away from your studies and cause you to get even worse grades," she said.

St. Albans senior Philip Berry noted that student-athletes must maintain a "C" average.

"If you come to school and do your work you're going to get a 2.0," Walker said.

A few of Berry's classmates believe the measure would keep many dangerous young drivers off the road.

Sophomore Whitney Crum said students who aren't serious about school are less likely to be careful while driving.

"If they don't care about what they're doing in the classroom, then what's to make me think that they actually care about what they're doing on the road," Botkin said.

Still, Miller does not believe the 2.0 requirement would offer incentive to work harder in school.

"[It] should be case sensitive," Roberson said. "Some kids really do try their hardest ...."

Three legislative bills address both issues. Two are in the Senate and one is in the House of Delegates, Ramsburg said.

To contact staff writer Davin White, use e-mail or call 348-1254.

 Video: Area high school students respond

Several Kanawha County high school students disagree with Gov. Joe Manchin's plans for the merit-based Promise scholarship, but favor a move to keep classmates without a "C" grade point average off the roads.

Manchin caught some lawmakers, educators and students off guard with those two proposals in his Jan. 9 State of the State address. The most unexpected twist was the proposed change to Promise.

Promise

Former Gov. Bob Wise introduced the scholarship to the 12th-grade class in 2002. It allowed students to attend a public in-state college or university tuition-free if they met certain criteria.

Students needed a minimum 3.0 grade point average and at least a 19 on the ACT exam to qualify.

Lawmakers struggle each year to find sufficient funds for Promise. Its administrators often bemoan higher tuition at West Virginia's public colleges and universities. Most scholarships are paid out of video lottery revenues.

Among Wise's original intentions: Keep college graduates in West Virginia.

Manchin wants Wise's hope to become a requirement. Students who earn the scholarship, keep it and finish school would have to stay in West Virginia upon graduation or pay the money back. The amount of time a student must stay in state is up to the board that oversees Promise, said Manchin's spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg.

Teens still need a 3.0, or "B" grade point average, in high school to earn the scholarship. Yet the Promise Board now requires at least a composite score of 22 on the ACT with a minimum score of 20 in each of the subject areas, which include reading, math, science and English. Or, students could opt for a combined score of 1020 on the SAT with a minimum score of 490 in critical reading and 480 in math.

Students also have to keep their grades up in college to retain the scholarship.

"Maybe if there were more job opportunities here in West Virginia people would want to stay and it wouldn't have to be enforced," said Bosten Miller, a senior at Capital High School.

Capital senior Sara Khoury said the change would affect students like her. She wants to pursue a career in fashion merchandise and design in New York City.

"It doesn't help me to stay here," she said.

Crystal Myers, a senior at South Charleston High School, agrees. She also wishes to pursue a career in New York, with a focus on advertising or magazine publications.

South Charleston senior Joshua Botkin said the Promise scholarship should not become a loan for students who decide to leave.

"It shouldn't have any real impact on the rest of your life," he said.

St. Albans senior Chris Williams agreed. "I wouldn't call it a scholarship anymore."

Sophomore classmate Jamie Williams also dislikes the governor's plan. As an underclassman, she is likely to be affected by Manchin's proposal, unlike current seniors. She hopes to attend West Virginia University, then medical school.

Trae Robison, Botkin's classmate at South Charleston, said Manchin pitched his plan to students at the Governor's Honors Academy last summer.

"The best and brightest don't have to stay here," Robison said. "Many will just go out of state."

Rather than take a low-paying job just to receive an education, he believes students will simply attend school outside West Virginia.

Manchin has indicated that exceptions would be made in some cases. For instance, a Promise graduate might not find a job in his degree area.

The Promise board would also iron out those details, Ramsburg said.

The governor's message is to "use common sense and when these issues come up; you deal with them and make adjustments," she said.

"We wouldn't put something in place that was so restrictive it didn't make sense," she said.

South Charleston senior Kinsey Walker doesn't believe students should be punished after they do well in high school. Walker's sister, Karley, a sophomore, is especially worried about having to stay in state or pay the scholarship back.

"There shouldn't be any strings attached," St. Albans junior Maria Belcher said.

Kenny Roberson, also a junior at St. Albans, said state lawmakers should bring more high-paying jobs to West Virginia so students don't have to make such a difficult decision after high school or college.

"It's a Promise scholarship," he said. "It's not a Promise-maybe scholarship."

Two Capital students disagreed. Senior Mark Radow believes Manchin's plan would keep more doctors, lawyers and other professionals in the state after graduation.

Senior Kasey Fields said Manchin's plan is in tune with the original intent of Promise: To keep more students in West Virginia. A student who accepts a Promise scholarship simply needs to know what she signed up for, Fields said.

Fields is the exception on both issues. She disagrees with Manchin's plan that calls for students to maintain a "C" average or lose their driver's license.

No "C" average, no license

"If someone had a death in the family or an illness it may be hard for them to maintain a 'C' average," Fields said. "I don't think it's right."

Radow believes a "C," or 2.0 grade point average, is not too demanding. Still, he knows it may be difficult for students who work a job after school. Without a license, won't it be harder to get to work?

Jamie Williams said students without a 2.0 shouldn't have jobs.

"That would take away from your studies and cause you to get even worse grades," she said.

St. Albans senior Philip Berry noted that student-athletes must maintain a "C" average.

"If you come to school and do your work you're going to get a 2.0," Walker said.

A few of Berry's classmates believe the measure would keep many dangerous young drivers off the road.

Sophomore Whitney Crum said students who aren't serious about school are less likely to be careful while driving.

"If they don't care about what they're doing in the classroom, then what's to make me think that they actually care about what they're doing on the road," Botkin said.

Still, Miller does not believe the 2.0 requirement would offer incentive to work harder in school.

"[It] should be case sensitive," Roberson said. "Some kids really do try their hardest ...."

Three legislative bills address both issues. Two are in the Senate and one is in the House of Delegates, Ramsburg said.

To contact staff writer Davin White, use e-mail or call 348-1254.