Ever since the voters of Southwest Mississippi elected me as their State senator, I have been adamant about improving the opportunities for our young people to go to college.

That is why I started my own scholarship fund for the children of residents of District 38 as they graduate college and begin their academic trek into Mississippi’s colleges and universities.

Today I would like to again announce that applications for the Sen. Kelvin E. Butler Scholarship Award are currently being accepted.

This year there will be three $500 college scholarships for any student from District 38 who will be attending an Institution of Higher Learning in the State of Mississippi.

The scholarships, eligible for residents who have lived within his district in Adams, Amite, Pike, Walthall and Wilkinson counties for at least one year, will be awarded based upon academic achievement and financial need.

I sincerely hope these scholarships will help a worthy student in his or her academic journey.

This scholarship, only available for students who are going to register as a full-time student for the 2007-2008 school years, has an application deadline of Aug. 1.

The scholarship is enjoying its third year of success in helping students of District 38.

The scholarship is not funded with taxpayer monies, but rather private donations through my political arm.

For more information on the scholarship, eligibility requirements, and a downloadable application, please log onto my personal website at KelvinButler.com.

Sen. Kelvin Butler represents District 38, which includes a part of Adams County.