Winners of the 2004-05 Student Government Association’s scholarship competition, “Eliminating Student Apathy,” have yet to receive their awards.

The scholarship was established in 2001 under the administration of SGA President Stephanie Jackson.

It was written into the SGA constitution that the president of SGA maintain the scholarship fund.

D’Weston Haywood, 2004-05 SGA president, blames the award disbursal failure on incomplete or obsolete student contact information.

The process of establishing and contacting winners took so long that Haywood could not get the scholarships issued before the 2004-05 budget was closed.

“School had let out by the time we — two cabinet members and two administrators and myself — decided on the winners,” said Haywood. “None of the scholarship winners even knew they had won.”

Third-place winner and sociology junior Ericka Shearin said she called and came by all summer at the beginning of the year.

“After not hearing anything from anyone, I thought that the winners had been notified and that I was not one of them,” she said.

President Renee Clark, unaware of the situation regarding the scholarship, was busy making plans for homecoming 2005, signing contracts and allocating her administrative budget.

“I did not know about the problem with the scholarship until after the budget was written,” said Clark.

Haywood and Clark have spoken about the situation and how to resolve the matter.

Both agree that it’s more important that winners are awarded their money than which budget it comes from.

“It was unfortunate that I had to hand this matter over to Renee under these circumstances,” said Haywood.

“But she is committed to seeing that the students receive what we promised them.”

Second-place winner, history junior Sasha Vann, is glad to hear of Clark’s plans but is unhappy with the lack of information she received.

“Taking over responsibilities that were left from last year shows her concern for the student body,” said Vann.

“But it does not erase the fact that the situation was handled incorrectly,” said Vann.

Even though Clark has promised that the scholarships will be disbursed next semester, first-place winner Jamesa Staten, a criminal justice senior, still has some concerns.

“I expected to graduate in December, and I feel that it would be very unfair if I did not receive the scholarship because of delays and other issues that I had no control over,” said Staten.

Clark said the scholarships will be awarded next semester from the homecoming profit, even to those who have graduated.

She said she understands the recipients’ frustration, but asks for their continued patience.

“Work with me,” said Clark.