100 NDSU schols for 23 govt and private secondary schools

by Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Twenty-three government and private secondary schools in Sri Lanka are to receive 100 scholarships from North Dakota State University (NDSU)in Foreign University Placement.

Advisor and Guidance Counsellor Priyanthi Dissanayake said that these inaugural scholarships for 2007 are given to the students from the prominent schools in Colombo namely Royal College, Ananda, Nalanda, Visakha, Devi Balika, D. S. Senanayake, Thurstan, Sirimavo Balika Vidyalaya, Isipathana, Mahanama College, Anula Vidyalaya, Muslim Ladies, S. Thomas, Mount Lavinia, St. Bridget's Convent, St. Peter's College, St. Joseph's College, Bishop's College, Holy Family Convent, Musaeus, Ladies College, St. Benedict's College, Good Shepherd's Convent, Kotahena and Methodist College.

The scholarships are offered to past and present students of these schools. Past students are those who sat for the local or London A/Ls in 2005 or 2006 having passed but failed to secure entrance to a Sri Lankan university.

Present students are those who obtained excellent O/L results and at present preparing for A/Ls in 2007, among the top 5% of the class. Every applicant is expected to have a good record of extracurricular activities, social services and a good command of English backed by a minimum score of 6.0 at IELTS, Dissanayake said.

She said that the NDSU special scholarship is a 34% reduction from the published rate for 2006/7 of US$ 22,719. Commercial Bank and People's Bank will provide student loans guaranteed by the parents.

NDSU is a student-oriented, nationally recognised, internationally and regionally engaged doctoral and research land-grant University. Established in 1890, NDSU is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and schools.