Students receive notice of Millennium Scholarships

Tuesday, July 11, 2000 | 9:55 a.m.

The state treasurer's office began mailing award letters last week to eligible students from public school districts, private schools, home schools and to GED applicants, said Susan Moore, the director of the scholarship program.

Not surprisingly, the bulk of the scholarship recipients hail from Nevada's two most populous areas. Clark and Washoe county students have combined to receive nearly 5,000 of the awards so far.

Clark County had 3,697 eligible students, with Washoe County second at 1,260. Elko County was third with 303 students, Moore said.

Any Nevada senior with a 3.0 grade-point average, who has earned a Nevada high school diploma, passed all parts of a proficiency test and lived in the state for two years can receive the scholarship.

The program created by Gov. Kenny Guinn was approved by the 1999 Legislature. It is funded with 40 percent of the money the state received in a national tobacco settlement.

Moore said hundreds of other students could become eligible for scholarships this summer once officials verify residency and proficiency test scores.

"We know that this list is going to grow," Moore said. "Right now, it's just a question of how much."

In August 1999, University and Community College System of Nevada analysts estimated that about 6,425 students would qualify for Millennium Scholarships. Officials have generally used a 6,500-student figure when talking about the impact the scholarships would have on state schools enrollments.

The University of Nevada, Reno expects a surge of 20 to 30 percent in its freshman class this fall, officials have said. In May, University of Nevada, Las Vegas officials said new student enrollment was up 28 percent from 1999.

Western Nevada Community College in Carson City also expects a 5 percent jump in enrollment, President Carol Lucey said earlier this month.