BELLEVUE, Wash. – City University of Seattle is helping aspiring students get into the classroom, despite the down economy, with innovative scholarship programs. The university recently kicked off the 2009 Seahawks Undergrad Scholarship worth $15,000. In addition to the Seahawks Scholarship, the university also provides the $10,800 Community/Technical College Transfer Scholarship, the $10,800 Laid Off Worker Scholarship, the Albright School of Education Diversity Scholarship, and the CityU of Seattle General Scholarship.

This is the third year CityU will provide the $15,000 scholarship with the Seattle Seahawks. The university also recently awarded its prestigious Diversity Scholarship to students of diverse backgrounds who want to become teachers. Since its start in 2001, Diversity Scholarship recipients have received $1.3 million in scholarships to use toward a Bachelor of Arts in Education or Master in Teaching degree.

“As a not-for-profit university, we are very fortunate we can assist cash-strapped students to start or finish their degrees with innovative scholarship programs that are created especially to meet their needs. Our significant tuition discounts are designed to help people transition back into school, and get a lift up,” said Lee Gorsuch, CityU president. He continues, “We are always looking at creative ways the university can make education more accessible to members of our community.”

Last April, the university announced its Laid-Off Worker and Community and Technical College scholarships at a press conference with Washington state Governor, Chris Gregoire. The governor commented, “These scholarships represent not just an opportunity for Washingtonians to earn undergraduate or graduate degrees, they also provide Washington employers with more men and women prepared for the 21st century economy once this recession ends.”

CityU is accepting applications for the $15,000 Seahawks Undergrad Scholarship through November 30, 2009.