(PIX11)
A New Jersey teen who recently sued her parents demanding financial support has been awarded a $56,000 scholarship to attend a private New England university.
“Decision made,” Rachel Canning said in a March 30 post, NJ.com reported. “WNE U class of 2018 BME Major w/ 56,000$ (sic) scholarship.”
In a case that garnered headlines nationwide, 18-year-old Canning took her mother and father to court last month alleging they were abusive and kicked her out of their home, leaving her unable to support herself financially.
Shortly after a judge denied Canning’s request for high school tuition and living expenses, the teen moved back home with her parents and eventually dropped the lawsuit.
A spokeswoman for Western New England University told PIX11 in a statement Wednesday that she cannot confirm whether Canning was accepted.
“Federal privacy laws prohibit colleges and universities from discussing the status of prospective and/or current applicants for admission. Therefore, Western New England University cannot comment on the status of any prospective student,” Barbara A. Moffat, vice president for marketing and external affairs of Western New England University, said.
Moffat added that the school “routinely offers merit scholarships to incoming freshmen based on academic achievement.” The scholarships range from $5,500 to $16,500 annually and are renewable for four years, she said. The university does not, however, provide students with a $56,000 scholarship in a single year. Rather, the merit scholarships can range between $22,000 and $66,000 over the course of four years.
Tuition and mandatory fees for an undergraduate student are $33,466 for the coming academic year, rising to $46,154 when room and board costs are factored in, the school said,a university spokesman told PIX11.
About 2,600 students attend the private Massachusetts college, which has about an 82 percent acceptance rate, according to the school’s College Board profile.
PIX11′s request for comment from Canning were not returned by the time of publication.