Former head of regents raises $500,000 for scholarships

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The former chairman of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education has raised more than $500,000 to help reduce student debt.

Mike Turpen issued the challenge in September when he chaired his first meeting of the state’s regents. The Oklahoman reports that Turpen continued to stress the need throughout the academic year both in public comments and private conversations.

The Oklahoma City attorney who just completed his term as chairman says he has been looking for ways to overcome student debt. Turpen says he thinks officials need to work harder to create more scholarships.

Oklahoma is third in the nation in affordability for an education at a public four-year institution. But Turpen says some students still can’t pay for college without student loans that can burden them for years.