Letter: Reader against means-testing TOPS
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“LSU System President John Lombardi said ... the state must cap merit-based TOPS scholarships and not give them to the wealthy,” The Advocate reported Oct. 27.
It seems that the idea of equal access for all of Louisiana’s graduating high school students to merit-based scholarships still doesn’t set well with Mr. Lombardi.
This is, of course, consistent with his astute observation shortly after arriving as LSU System president. He observed many shiny cars on campus and decided too many wealthy students were getting the TOPS scholarship, students who might be able to afford college without TOPS.
On another occasion, “Lombardi asked those ‘feeling sorry for these kids’ to stroll through the student parking lots. Hardly a car there is valued at less than $25,000, he said.” (The Advocate, Sept. 24.)
Given his keen interest in and ability to assess automobile values, Mr. Lombardi may indeed have a promising future in used-car sales. For now, he is selling the idea that some of Louisiana’s best students simply don’t deserve TOPS.
“For students from families making more than $100,000 a year, Lombardi said, ‘Maybe you need to get a TOPS certificate, but maybe you don’t need the money.’ The certificate can say, ‘You can walk on water,’ Lombardi said, but it does not come with free tuition.” (The Advocate, Oct. 27)
TOPS is awarded to every student, without regard for financial need, if the student meets the GPA/ACT criteria established in the program.
Lombardi’s keen insight allows him to identify this uniformly merit-based approach as an injustice, and he is determined to correct it. Never mind the availability of a multitude of university, business, private endowment, state and federally funded need-based scholarships and grants.
So, while Mom and Dad are hard at work and paying Louisiana taxes, many of our best students are working even harder in the classroom and dreaming of the day they’ll get their very own John Lombardi “Walking on Water — No Money Included” TOPS Certificate.
These certificates can be great motivational tools. Best of all, they make perfect graduation gifts. Just imagine your graduating senior’s sense of accomplishment.
If your student should decide to attend LSU anyway, and has a nice car, he or she may wish to steer clear of Mr. Lombardi and his customary on-campus automobile appraisals. This may help the student avoid the John Lombardi “We Ain’t Feeling Sorry for These Kids” parking fees and surcharges.
Penalizing families of high-achieving Louisiana students of any income bracket does not advance higher education in our state.
Kurt Vosburg
engineering and design
Prairieville
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