WGU Nevada to give $32,000 in scholarships to Latin Chamber members

The newly formed Western Governors University Nevada plans to give $32,000 in scholarships to members of the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce.

As many as 10 recipients can receive the WGU Nevada Otto Merida Scholarship, named after the chamber's founder and long-serving CEO. The deadline to apply on WGU's website is Jan. 31.

"The Latin Chamber of Commerce has played such a vital role in the development and growth of Southern Nevada," WGU Nevada Chancellor Spencer Stewart said. "I've always been impressed with Otto's character and what he's been able to accomplish over his career there."

The scholarships are valued at $3,200 per student. They will be provided in $800 increments each six-month school term and are renewable for up to four terms.

Scholarships are available to new students looking to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in WGU Nevada's online degree programs in information technology, business, teacher education or health care.

Chamber President Peter Guzman said the financial aid will be especially valuable for chamber members because many of them are adults who have work and family obligations that make it difficult to go to college in a traditional classroom setting.

"In the Hispanic community, sometimes we need that flexibility," Guzman said. "A lot of our people are working — some are working two jobs. The traditional setting and schedule doesn't always work."

WGU Nevada, a nonprofit online institution, was established in June through a $2 million grant from USA Funds, a nonprofit that promotes access to higher learning through its mission, "completion with a purpose." It since has been funded with tuition, which is charged at a flat rate of about $3,000 per six-month term. A student can begin a term on the first day of any month.

WGU has five other state-based universities in Indiana, Washington, Texas, Missouri and Tennessee. The online university says it has more than 58,000 students and 43,000 graduates. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

WGU Nevada is a competency-based university, meaning students study and learn on their own schedule and at their own pace. Established in 1997 by a group of governors, WGU bases course competency on skills and knowledge that employers in the state say workers should have.

Eligible scholarship recipients must be one of the chamber's 800 dues-paying members or belong to a member company. Awards will be granted based on an applicant's academic record, financial need and readiness for the school's online coursework.

"I was very surprised and emotional about the fact that they'd done this and named it for me," Merida said. "This is something good for Nevada, and I'm very proud."

To apply for the scholarship or read more information about it, visit nevada.wgu.edu/LVLCC.

Contact Ana Ley at aley@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5512. Find her on Twitter @la__ley