http://kunr-assets.trinityannex.com/audios/311_012011_KLAICH_MILLENIUM_SCHOLARSHIP.mp3
To help balance the state budget in recent legislative sessions, Nevada lawmakers have diverted money out of the Millennium Scholarship fund. That's the fund that provides college money to Nevada students who do well in high school. Some have predicted the fund will be sucked dry in the legislative session that starts in a few weeks, but our Brandon Rittiman got a different prediction from Nevada Chancellor Dan Klaich. In an interview for KUNR's "Beyond the Headlines," Klaich made this prediction: Klaich: "I don't think the Millennium Scholarship's going anywhere. It's been too successful. It's too high profile, and I think the memory of Kenny Guinn is too fresh on everyone's mind to see that sink this session, so I don't think it's going to happen." That's a bold statement given the fact that some Democrats trying to limit cuts have admitted they don't think they can keep the program off the chopping block. In fact, lawmakers had to give the Millennium Scholarship an emergency infusion of cash between sessions to keep it alive through next June. That $4 million dollars came from the state's college savings program. But Klaich says he hopes lawmakers will see keeping the scholarship as a no-brainer, saying it keeps Nevada students in the state to provide a better educated workforce for future industry here. As he mentioned, the scholarship was championed by the late Governor Kenny Guinn. At its peak, more than 6,000 students took advantage of the money. That number dropped to less than 5,000. A lack of funds forced stricter requirements to qualify and less of a payout for students. In the interest of full disclosure: The Nevada System of Higher Education holds the broadcast license for this radio station.