(NPRI) – LAS VEGAS \u2014 The Nevada Policy Research Institute announced today it will again offer a $2,500 scholarship to a graduating Clark County high school student who shows the potential to make a significant contribution to the cause of economic liberty.<\/p>\n
This is the fifth year that the Professor R.S. Nigam & NPRI Freedom Scholarship is being offered. It is open to all Clark County high school students \u2014 whether they attend a public, private, online or home school \u2014 who plan to attend college beginning in the fall of 2015.<\/p>\n
This year students interested in applying for the scholarship are asked to write a two-page essay on this topic:<\/p>\n
Improving education: raise taxes or allow school choice?<\/strong>
\nGov. Brian Sandoval has proposed raising taxes by $1.3 billion to increase education funding. Do you support the governor\u2019s plan? Or, do you support improving education by introducing school choice programs \u2014 such as opportunity scholarships, online learning, charter schools and education savings accounts \u2014 in Nevada?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\u201cThe Professor R.S. Nigam & NPRI Freedom Scholarship gives up-and-coming thinkers the opportunity to consider free-market solutions to real-world problems,\u201d said Swadeep Nigam, who funds the scholarship program in the name of his father, an advocate of freedom and a professor of business in India and Nevada. \u201cThe question of how best to improve education is a question not only faced by districts in Nevada, but across the country. This year\u2019s essay challenges graduates to think outside the box and find real remedies for public problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
All applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.2 and complete an application, which includes the above essay question.<\/p>\n
To be eligible, a student\u2019s parents must have earned less than $125,000 in income in 2013, and the student must plan to attend a four-year degree program in business, economics, political science, public administration or a related field, at an accredited college or university.<\/p>\n
Professor R.S. Nigam was a director of the Delhi School of Economics at the University of Delhi, a visiting professor at the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a senior fellow at the University of Wisconsin, in addition to academic engagements in Europe, the West Indies and Asia, including North\u00a0Korea.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis scholarship is a fitting way to honor Professor R.S. Nigam, who was devoted not only to free-market thinking, but education,\u201d NPRI President Andy Matthews said of the professor who taught at UNLV, among other institutions across the globe. \u201cWe appreciate the opportunity to help an upcoming Clark County graduate further his or her education and honor Professor Nigam.\u201d<\/p>\n
Essays and applications are due to NPRI by May 1, 2015<\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n