Two Western Nevada Community College students who graduate this spring semester will each receive $12,000 scholarships to pursue a bachelor's degree.
The college was one of 13 community colleges in the country to receive the scholarships from the Hites Scholarship Foundation in St. Louis.
"This is one of the most prestigious scholarships available to a community college graduate," said WNCC President Carol Lucey. "We are pleased to be able to award two of our best students with this type of grant."
Anne Hansen, director of marketing and information at WNCC, said the scholarships will give students the opportunity to receive a bachelor's degree that they would otherwise not have.
"Many of our students would like to get a bachelor's degree," she said. "It's unfortunate that just because you live in the outlying area, you may not be able to go. It's exciting that these students can tap into it (the scholarship) and fulfill their dreams."
Hansen said the executive of scholarship foundation contacted the college "out of the blue" to offer the grant.
"He called and said he'd heard about our college," Hansen said. "He felt we were a good fit and we were deserving of it. You don't apply for it; they just decide who they want to give it to."
To receive the scholarships, students must have earned 50 of their credits at WNCC, have a 3.5 grade-point average and have been accepted to a four-year college or university for next fall. It does not need to be a Nevada school.
The students will receive $3,000 per semester for four semesters.
Lucey said the scholarship was endowed by Bob Hites, who was vice president of Ralston Purina in St. Louis and an adjunct professor at the St. Louis Community College's Meramec campus.
Deadline to apply for the scholarships is May 1.
For information regarding scholarships call:
WNCC Office of Financial Assistance 445-3264.
