(a)    Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, each recipient of a Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Award may hold the award for 4 years if the recipient:

(1)    Continues to be a resident of this State;

(2)    Continues to be a full–time student at an eligible institution and takes at least 12 semester hours of courses each semester, or its equivalent as determined by the Office;

(3)    In the judgment of the institution, is making satisfactory progress toward a degree; and

(4)    Maintains the standards of the institution.

(b)    Each recipient of a Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Award who is enrolled in an associate degree program as permitted in § 18–303(a)(1) of this subtitle may hold the award for 2 years if the same conditions of subsection (a) of this section are met.

(c)    Each recipient of a Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Award may hold the award for a 5th year if the recipient continues to satisfy the requirements under subsection (a) of this section and:

(1)    Is enrolled in an academic program that, as determined by the institution, requires 5 years to complete; or

(2)    Provides evidence, satisfactory to the Office, of extenuating financial, academic, or other circumstances that prevent the recipient from completing the academic program in 4 years.

(d)    Each recipient of a Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Award who is enrolled in an associate degree program as permitted in § 18–303(a)(1) of this subtitle may hold the award for a 3rd year if the recipient:

(1)    Continues to satisfy the requirements under subsection (a) of this section; and

(2)    Provides evidence, satisfactory to the Office, of extenuating financial, academic, or other circumstances that prevent the recipient from completing the academic program in 2 years.