Due to the increased cost of the entire college education, many have found college challenging to afford, as the whole college education includes tuition fees, room and board, food, lab fees, books, materials, and transportation. College tuition costs have risen by 79% over the past 10 years. The rising costs see the need for scholarship opportunities. 

Unlike student loans, they do not need to be repaid, and they help reduce the cost of studying. Besides the financial benefits, scholarships help attain a diverse and inclusive environment for students as they learn, live, and work in a college that mirrors the workplaces and communities they will become part of. 

A local couple, Gene and Yolanda Camarena, decided to generously donate $1 million to Wichita State University to provide the students of color "the opportunity they otherwise might not have," said the university. The couple stated that their goal is to provide students of color with a level pathway to a college degree and equal ability to participate in all opportunities Kansas offers.

Columnist Katherine Johnson cited that scholarships should be based on academic records and financial needs. With two similar resumes as an example, she explained that racial preference for a scholarship is not the proper basis of qualification. Students should be given an equal opportunity based on merit and academic record. Students who demonstrate commitment to education inside and outside the classroom should be awarded scholarships regardless of race. All are accepted today, and discrimination and racial bias are no longer tolerated. Therefore, the need to qualify students for scholarship opportunities based on race is unnecessary.  

The debate in question is, should scholarships in Kansas be given to students based on race?