670-B - Scholarships for academic excellence.

§  670-b.  Scholarships  for  academic  excellence.    1.  Number  and  certification. Five  thousand  scholarships  shall  be  awarded  in  the  nineteen  hundred  ninety-seven--ninety-eight  academic  year, and eight  thousand  scholarships  shall  be  awarded  in  the   nineteen   hundred  ninety-eight--ninety-nine   academic   year   and   thereafter.     Such  scholarships shall be allocated as provided in article thirteen of  this  chapter   to  eligible  students  certified  to  the  president  by  the  commissioner.    2. Duration. A scholarship shall entitle the recipient  to  an  annual  award  for  not more than four academic years of undergraduate study, or  five academic years, if the program  of  study  normally  requires  five  years  as  defined  by  the commissioner pursuant to article thirteen of  this chapter.    3. Amount. a. (i) For the nineteen hundred  ninety-seven--ninety-eight  academic year, there shall be two thousand scholarships in the amount of  one thousand dollars each and there shall be three thousand scholarships  in the amount of five hundred dollars each.    (ii)  For the nineteen hundred ninety-eight--ninety-nine academic year  and thereafter, there shall be two thousand scholarships in  the  amount  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  each  and  there shall be six  thousand scholarships in the amount of five hundred dollars each.    (iii) Notwithstanding any  inconsistent  provision  of  law,  students  awarded  one  thousand  dollar  scholarships  in  the  nineteen  hundred  ninety-seven--ninety-eight  academic  year  shall  be  entitled  in  the  nineteen hundred ninety-eight--ninety-nine academic year  and thereafter  to an annual award of one thousand five hundred dollars.    b.  In  no  event  shall  the  amount  of  the annual award exceed the  recipient's cost of attendance at the institution  attended.    Cost  of  attendance  shall  mean  tuition,  required  fees,  laboratory and other  instruction related expenses, books,  transportation,  room  and  board.  Anything in this article to the contrary notwithstanding, a recipient of  a  scholarship  may  concurrently  receive  with  such  award  any other  academic or general award for which he or she may be  eligible  provided  however  in  no  event shall a recipient be awarded a scholarship in any  amount where the  combination  of  all  such  awards  would  exceed  the  recipient's cost of attendance at the institution.