Students who graduate with a 3.0 GPA or better from Middletown High School will soon be eligible for assistance from the Middletown College Pledge, an organization determined that top students get a chance to afford college level studies.

Dr. Chris Urso, chairman of the group, teaches at Miami University Middletown and is well aware of the struggles students have in funding their studies.

A critical part of the success of the program is a Pledge staff member who will advise students and parents on the application process for grants and scholarships and then how to access the Pledge funds.

The Middletown College Pledge program will include a combination of sources – Pell Grants (when appropriate), Scholarships, Foundation support and an endowment, all together building a solid foundation that can guarantee at least $5,000 in the first two years of college and $7,000 during the final two years. Those amounts will allow a student to attend Miami University Middletown, Wright State, Sinclair, Cincinnati State or Butler Tech. Or, a student can take that $5,000 and use it toward another, more expensive college. The program is open to all students and is not based on need.

By combining all four types of funding, the investment in an endowment need not be as large as other similar programs - $1.8 million vs $30+ million.

Middletown College Pledge is now accepting donations to the fund at the Middletown Community Foundation, and already has the support of the Middletown Area United Way and other donors.

Modeled after a successful program in Denver Colorado, the Pledge is expected to be up and running to be accessed by 2017 graduates.

Chris Urso, son of two well-known area educators, Beverly and Joe Urso, lives in Middletown with his wife Julie and two children.

Other members of the Board are: David Binder, Kelly Cuvar, Judy Gilleland , James Langendorf and Ann Mort.