KEES

The Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) is available to graduates of an eligible Kentucky high school that are residents of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  The scholarship is made available to eligible students by Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). 

Students can view their awards via the KHEAA website at https://www.kheaa.com/apps/registration/signin. 

New High School Graduates

As a new high school graduate, you do not need to request your KEES award.  All your high school information has been reported for you by your high school guidance counselor. Once you have been admitted and enrolled, KCTCS will report your enrollment to KHEAA.  To view your KCTCS account, please login to students.kctcs.edu.

Renewal Criteria for Continuing Students

To maintain your KEES award, you must meet certain eligibility criteria. In additon to being a degree seeking student and resident of Kentucky, KEES regulations require you to be 'on track' to graduate. Your 'on track' status will be sent to KHEAA along with your cumulative GPA at the end of each spring term.

• If you have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA you will receive your full KEES award.
• If you have a 2.50 to 2.99 cumulative GPA and meet the “on track” to graduate requirement you will receive your full renewal KEES award. If you have a 2.50 to 2.99 cumulative GPA but do not meet the “on track” to graduate requirement you will receive a 50 % reduction for the renewal of your KEES award
• If your cumulative GPA drops below a 2.5 you will lose the KEES award for the next academic year.

KCTCS On Track to Graduate Reporting

Students with a GPA of 2.50-2.99 must meet the following requirements to be considered on track to graduate and to receive FULL KEES award.

Please note only credits earned in the Fall and Spring will count towards your on track status.  Credits earned during a summer semester will be counted towards your next academic year when GPA and enrollment is reported to KHEAA.

Students with GPA 2.50-2.99 and do not meet the above requirements will be reduced to 50% of the full award if they attended full-time the previous academic year.

Students with GPA below 2.50 will lose the KEES award for the next academic year.

Reinstating your KEES Award

If you have previously lost your KEES award due to a low GPA and you attended BCTC during your KEES suspension, BCTC may have to manually report your renewal GPA. 

Award Amounts

Award estimates are based on full time enrollment. Your actual KEES award will be based on your enrollment status after the last day to add a class each fall and spring semester.

KEES Percentage for less than full-time

If you are enrolled for 6 to 11 credit hours, your award will be calculated by the following percentage:

If you are enrolled for only 1 to 5 credit hours, you are not eligible for a KEES award . Keep in mind that the award expires if you do not use it within five years of your high school graduation.

Home School Students

Students that graduate from a home school may be eligible for a KEES ACT Supplemental Bonus. To be eligible for a KEES ACT award, a home school graduate must:

• Have an ACT composite score of 15 or better (SAT score of 710 or better) on a national exam.
• Be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident.
• Be a Kentucky resident. You are eligible if you maintain your legal residence in Kentucky while attending the U.S. Congressional Page School or participating in an approved foreign educational exchange program. You are eligible if your parent or guardian maintains legal residence in Kentucky while serving in the U.S. armed forces.
• Not be a convicted felon.

Home School students must be manually reported to KHEAA to receive an ACT Supplemental Bonus. 

GED Students

Students that obtain a GED may be eligible for a KEES ACT Supplemental Bonus.  To be eligible for a KEES ACT award, a GED graduate must:

• Have an ACT composite score of 15 or better (SAT score of 710 or better) on a national exam.
• Have had your 18th birthday occur on or after January 1, 1999.
• Have earned a GED in Kentucky within five years of turning 18 years old.
• Be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident.
• Be a Kentucky resident.
• Be enrolled in a participating college within five years of receiving a GED.
• Not be a convicted felon.

GED students must be manually reported to KHEAA to receive an ACT Supplemental Bonus.