689 Nevada students will receive new need-based scholarship

Higher education officials say they’ll be awarding a new need-based scholarship to 689 Nevada students in time for the fall semester.

The Nevada System of Higher Education said it will inform the winners in the coming days that they’re getting the Silver State Opportunity Grant.

The Nevada Legislature passed a bill this spring that creates the grant and applies $2.5 million to the fund in each of the next two years. Awards vary in size based on a student’s financial need.

Nevada has awarded the merit-based Millennium Scholarship for more than a decade, but didn’t have a need-based scholarship until this year. Students at community colleges and Nevada State College are eligible.

Bill co-sponsor Sen. Ben Kieckhefer said the program is a huge step in ensuring college is affordable.