Associated Press - October 27, 2009 11:55 AM ET

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - The state's primary need-based financial aid program stopped awarding grants two months ago, but that hasn't deterred students from continuing to apply for one.

The Oregon Opportunity Grant was cut by $11 million at a time when the state's double-digit unemployment rate sent many people back to college.

That forced officials to deny grants to thousands who filed after an Aug. 15 deadline.

But the applications keep coming.

The Oregon Student Assistance Commission says more than 7,800 qualified students have filed financial aid applications since the deadline.

Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com

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