<p>This is my first post, so please forgive any faux pas. My child was a semi-finalist in Maryland for the Distinguished Scholar Award, but to date, we haven't heard anything about it. We got the questionnaire in April as to the state college she's attending and dutifully filled it out and sent it in (Return receipt requested from the Post Office so we know they got it). I've tried three times to date to actually call them... twice leaving a message that no one returned. </p>
<p>So, has any other semi-finalists heard from them? Thanks.</p>
<p>My son is a Maryland Distinguished Scholar finalist, not semi-finalist, but he has not yet received his award letter either. We sent in our questionnaire in May. I called the MHEC office on 7/27 and spoke to someone about it. I was told that they had some glitches in a new database and hoped to have the award letters out by the end of the first week in August. I’m not sure if the same information holds true for semi-finalists. Good luck with the waiting!</p>
<p>Just heard back from the MHEC. They said that they’re late this year because of a new database (what lemonge said) and said they were going to start offering the awards to the finalists, and then would start on the semi-finalists when they got through that list (which seems odd to me because the forms were supposed to be in last June as to what colleges folks were going to). When I asked what kind of time frame we’re looking at to hear anything, she said to try calling back at the end of this month. <sigh></sigh></p>
<p>I also called about semi-finalists receiving notification and got the same explanation as the other people. They did tell me that semi-finalists would not have any money in time for Fall tuition.:(</p>
<p>Are these the awards for seniors who already graduated? Not the ones that will be seniors in the fall, class of 2011? I understood that there was a data glitch and students had not yet been notified.</p>
<p>yes, these are for the kids who are now Freshmen in college. My son was a semi-finalist - not a finalist - and we are still hoping that maybe he’ll get some money. As of Saturday’s mail though, we haven’t heard anything. I’m not sure if the finalists from last year heard yet or not.</p>
<p>I spoke to MHEC on 9/9 and was told (again) that they are having database problems and award letters have still not been generated. This is for current college freshmen. My son is a finalist. When I asked about how long it would take for the money to reach my son’s college once the award letter was received, it sounds like at least 6+ weeks. I am starting to think that we won’t see any money until after the spring semester tuition is due.</p>
<p>Just received a letter today that I’m a finalist. So it appears that things are starting to happen, … they must have solved their software problems …</p>