On Feb. 19, the educational futures of thousands of South Carolinians were cast into sudden doubt when House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bobby Harrell made a sudden and unexpected move to eliminate the $34 million set aside for Lottery Tuition Assistance funding for students at the state's two-year colleges. The action set the technical college system and its supporters into quick motion to remedy the situation and attempt to preserve the funds for students who benefit from the Lottery Tuition Assistance program.

Among those advocates who rallied to the defense of technical college students - and who were successful in their petition to have $27.8 million of the original $34 million reinstated, at least for the moment - were a number of area legislators who deserve to be publicly recognized. They sought support for the LTA program, which enables many South Carolinians to access higher education, citizens who perhaps earn a bit too much to qualify for other financial assistance, yet are not "rich," or who do not have the grades required for merit scholarship eligibility.

Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, is one area legislator deserving mention. Edge, as a freshman member of the House Ways and Means Committee, actively supported an amendment to reinstate LTA funding. He advocated technical college students' position to fellow committee members and was a major factor in the success of the effort to preserve program funding.

I must also express appreciation to Rep. Liston Barfield, R-Conway, who went to work on the House floor, seeking support for the petition from his fellow legislators. In addition, Reps. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, and Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, signed onto the petition to reinstate funding for the LTA program.

The debate over the allocation of lottery funds for the coming fiscal year continues in Columbia, but, regardless how the final vote comes down, Horry-Georgetown Technical College is excited about the impact the LTA program has already made in the lives and futures of thousands of South Carolinians and is proud to have advocates for our students and higher-education access among our local delegation.