The Maryland Higher Education Commission has lost $3.2 million in scholarship funding, according to state auditors. Robert Parker, the commission’s director of student financial aid, told The Washington Examiner that the missing money is in an account state senators use to give scholarships. “The money is there — it’s not lost,” Parker said. But auditor Bruce Myers confirmed on Wednesday that the funds are missing. “This is the first time that this explanation has come up,” said Myers, legislative auditor for Maryland’s independent Office of Legislative Audits. State accounting records show the commission did not award $7.5 million in scholarship grants during fiscal 2009, but the commission reported only $4.3 million in unused funding, according to the audit.
— Hayley Peterson
