OGLESBY —When state Rep. Mike Boland, D-Moline, sat at his high school graduation, he had a moment of panic when he wondered how he would ever go to college.

Boland was one of seven children in a family with little means, with neither of his parents completing high school. He'd started out a strong student when he attended high school, but veered off course with sports and other distractions. He graduated with a C-plus average.

But he still had the desire to get a degree.

"It was a great struggle for me to get a college education," he said during a press conference at Illinois Valley Community College Friday. "It took me seven years to finish a four-year program" because he had to work while getting his degree.

Boland would like to extend a helping hand to students in Illinois hoping to go to college, provided those students are up to the challenge.

Boland, chairman of the Illinois House of Representatives Committee on Higher Education, is working out details of a proposal to create Challenge Scholarships. This program would provide qualifying students with funds to pay for 30 semester hours of tuition at the student's local community college. Those funds could be applied to attend a four-year university also.

Students would be able to use tuition dollars to attend full time or part time. They could take general education course with plans to transfer to a four-year school, as well as enrolling in vocational education programs at community colleges.

To qualify, students as eighth-graders, along with a parent or guardian, must pledge to graduate high school, maintain a C average, and avoid self-destructive behavior, including gang activity, violent behavior and using drugs or alcohol.

"These behaviors hurt lives and cost society a huge amount of money," he said. "It costs so much more to incarcerate someone ... as opposed to tuition, say at Illinois Valley (Community College)."

If the program is created it would begin with eighth-graders in that year, who would be the first to receive a payout four years later after they complete high school, assuming all criteria are met. The program would be open to public and parochial school students. Students would have to sign a waiver to allow the program to monitor their school record. The program would have a zero tolerance policy.

"One thing we have done in our society is to try a lot of negative approaches to make kids stay out of trouble,"he said. "I want to try a positive approach."

Boland plans to propose legislation to create this program in February, provided he can find an independent funding stream for the scholarships. He did not believe the program should be funded through tax dollars and government appropriations, which could be cut by future administrations.

"I would rather do nothing than have someone go through all of this and then be disillusioned when they hear, 'Sorry, there's no money.'"

Boland said he would like to see the program under the auspice of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission or the lieutenant governor's office.

Boland has several ideas for funding the program, which conceivably could include hundreds of thousands of students each year. Among his ideas are adding an additional $100 fee onto court adjudications, donations made on state income taxes, a special license plate and donations from foundations and individuals.

"I think if it is successful and young people benefit from this, it will entice more and more foundations to get involved and we'll be able to zoom it up,"he said.

Boland said the program may be limited to students under a certain income level, but that stipulation has yet to be determined.

Boland is touring all Illinois colleges seeking input about the program. He also welcomes citizen suggestions, which can be made through his legislative office, 4416 River Drive, Moline, IL 61265, by phone at 309-736-3360, or e-mail at MBoland71@msn.com.

Rick Pearce, vice president for learning and student development at IVCC, said the idea is on the right track. Students who have expectations of going to college are more likely to attain that goal.

"Anything that provides an increased opportunity for students in the state, we are absolutely for it," he said. "But it boils down to the money."