PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University President V. Lane Rawlins announced today that 428 Washington high-achieving juniors have been nominated for the university’s Regents Scholarship Program. The 2-year-old program provides more than $3 million in scholarship awards to those nominees who choose to attend WSU.
“The program aims to recognize outstanding students and keep them in the state of Washington for their college education,” the president said. “By acknowledging their accomplishments and offering them opportunities for significant support toward their education at WSU, we want to signify how important they are to our state’s future. These students will join current WSU students who are able to work side-by-side with world-class faculty who care about their success.”
Each Washington high school principal could nominate up to two students from the school’s 2003 graduating class. More than 240 high school administrators nominated students.
“Every nominee who attends WSU will receive a $3,000 scholarship that is renewable for a second year,” Rawlins said. The university will select 75 for an additional $1,000, also renewable for a second year.
WSU will select 25 students as Regents Scholars who will be awarded a full scholarship valued at more than $14,000 per year for four years of successful academic progress.
Each student must have a minimum 3.8 grade point. The WSU Regents Scholarship Committee also will evaluate the students’ academic strengths and interests, leadership capabilities, and extracurricular and community involvement. The average for the class of 2003 nominees is 3.93.
“Our scholars will have many opportunities for leadership roles while at the university,” the WSU president said. “Our supportive and empowering community will help these students prepare for a career and achieve their goals.”
By Oct. 15, the selection committee will choose the 75 students who will receive the $4,000 awards. By Dec. 1, the 25 Regents Scholars will be notified. Each of the Regents Scholars’ high schools will receive a plaque recognizing the school’s contributions to the young scholars’ education.
“We are thrilled that the ongoing generosity of our alumni and friends enables us to continue to offer opportunities such as this scholarship program to students in the state of Washington,” Rawlins said.
The nominees also will be invited to participate in WSU-sponsored activities for high-achieving students.
