CSB and SJU students visit Minnesota state capitol

Students from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University attended the 2015 Day at the Capitol event Thursday, March 19, in St. Paul.

Throughout the day, students encouraged lawmakers to continue the state's investment in the Minnesota State Grant program. They met with their hometown representatives to talk with them about the importance of the State Grant program and encouraged them to vote to raise the cap on the level of tuition and fees used in calculating students' grant awards.

The State Grant program is a source of money for college students in Minnesota. The funding helps students at public and private universities, targeting low and middle-income families. Last year, there were 1,009 students from CSB and SJU that received funding from the program, with an average grant of $4,220.

Each year, the program provides grants to nearly 100,000 students statewide. One in four Minnesota college students who attend private and public institutions receive these grants. In total, more than $4.2 million in awards have been made to CSB and SJU students through the program.

Twenty-nine Bennies and Johnnies attended this year's event.