Scholarships essential for UNLV students

With college costs rising every year, some students say they might never get their degrees without the support of scholarships. Donations, largely from wealthy individuals or corporations, fund those scholarships.

Tuition and books run more than $5,000 a year and will increase again next year. As state budget cuts take effect, higher education officials say they have no choice but to raise student fees.

That makes scholarships, and the donations that fund them, essential for some students.

KARLA WASHINGTON

Washington is a 42-year-old single mother who dropped out of high school. She worked as a truck driver for a while, even received welfare to help make ends meet.

She decided that was not how she wanted her daughter to see her, so she decided to go to college.

She enrolled in a California community college, did well and transferred to UNLV, where she is studying hospitality management.

She says without scholarships, she has no idea how she would pay for school.

"I try to get as many scholarships as I can," she says. "I honestly wouldn't be able to take care of myself, my daughter, or my education without the scholarships."

ELLE HOUSE

House, 20, also is studying in the hotel college. She grew up all over the world because her parents moved a lot when she was young.

She moved to Las Vegas and attended high school here.

She says she was fascinated by hotels around the world, and would one day like to manage a hotel, perhaps here in Las Vegas.

Scholarships are essential, she says, in helping her pay for her education.

"It would be really hard for me to go to school without scholarships," she says.

HOLLIE TAYLOR

Taylor, 33, wants to write books some day. She's studying journalism, raising two children alone and working two jobs.

She says she was inspired to return to school recently and knows that she can do it because her mother graduated from UNLV years ago while raising six children.

She says scholarships are essential in helping to cover the cost of tuition. She was recently awarded a newly created scholarship for the spring semester.

"I am just amazed," she says. "I can't even put into words how much of a difference this is going to make."

RICHARD LAKE/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL