SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENT FOR BA and BSc DEGREES IN ARTS, SCIENCE INCLUDING NURSING STUDENTS
Year 2009

Information for Applicants

Nidhi Kadir Watson was an accomplished scientist and a medical doctor when she passed away due to cancer in 2007 at the young age of 31. She was an inspiration for her colleagues, professors and young doctors she was training.
She achieved a lot in academics and professional field during her short span of life. She was a graduate in Chemical Engineering with Honors from University of Texas at Austin. Then she pursued studies in medical sciences and graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her training for Doctor of Medicine in Neurology was at Rush Presbyterian Medical College in Chicago. Further, she continued her research and fellowship in Movement Disorders, published number of papers in medical journals. She was also the spokesperson for Rush Presbyterian Medical College and helped with fund raising for research activities and public awareness programs and was interviewed by the leading major TV News Channels in USA. At the time of her death in May 2007 Nidhi was the Associate Medical Director for Clinical Research at Abbott Laboratory, Chicago, U.S.A.
Primarily Nidhi’s parents Kadirpillai Chollampattu and Tara Fatima and other individuals established Nidhi Kadir Watson Program, here in after called PROGRAM.
Nidhi Kadir Watson Program has established scholarships for degrees in arts, science and nursing. The PROGRAM is offering scholarships for students who have enrolled in colleges and universities in the district of Ernakulam, Kerala to pursue arts, science and nursing studies leading to a Bachelors degree. One scholarship each for arts, science and nursing will be awarded for year 2009.

Award of Scholarship shall be based on the academic merit and financial hardship of the applicant. A panel of members elected by the PROGRAM shall select the scholarship winners based on merit and financial hardship of the candidate. The panel may consider other criteria as defined in Section 4.iii of this document. The student will become eligible for the scholarship during the FIRST year of studies. The scholarship will be renewed every year until the normal completion of the course of studies, provided the student has shown satisfactory performance in the preceding year. See Para 8.0.

IRS 7,500/ year per student for the duration of the course.

i

Student shall be enrolled in an accredited College or University in the district of Ernakulam, Kerala in a course leading to arts,
science or nursing.

ii

The combined income of the student's parents shall be below Rs.50, 000/ year from all sources.

iii

Applicant’s awards, honors and extracurricular activities shall be considered in selecting the scholarship recipient when more than one deserving candidates are identified based on academic merit and income criteria.

iv

If the student has already accepted another scholarship, he/she shall provide complete details of such other scholarship(s).

v

The following academic achievements will be the basis for considering the award.

(i) Arts and science students have scored above 80% marks for SSLC/ICSE/CBSE and Plus-2.

(ii) Nursing students have obtained a rank less than 15,000 in the entrance examination and scored above 75% marks for SSLC/ICSE/CBSE and Plus-2.

vi

Students admitted through management-quota are not generally eligible for the award.

During the student's course of study, if it is found that any willful misrepresentation of facts or false
information has been used to win a scholarship award, PROGRAM will immediately terminate the student's
scholarship.

i

The student shall submit the completed application form and Letter of Recommendation provided by PROGRAM that can be downloaded from PROGRAM web site www.NKWprogram.org Photocopies of the blank forms are acceptable.

Attach the following documents with application:

1. Copies of the Marks-lists for: (i) SSLC/CBSE/ICSE (ii) Plus-2. All applicants (arts, science and nursing)

2. Copies of Marks-list and Rank Certificate for nursing.

3. Letter of Recommendation from a former or current teacher or head master or head mistress of student’s school.

4. Income Certificate including all sources, issued by Tahsildar / Village Officer.

5. Statement explaining type of agriculture, labour or business of parents/ guardian.

6. Details of awards received in extra curricular activities.

7. A letter or statement describing any extraordinary circumstances which you feel makes your application worthy of special     consideration.

8. A statement providing details of scholarships, grants and non repayable financial awards the student may be receiving from sources other than the PROGRAM. Include amounts, duration of payment, source’s name and basis of award in your statement.

ii

A recommendation letter in the given format must accompany the application. Applicant shall provide a copy of the blank ‘Letter of Recommendation’ form (downloadable from PROGRAM web site) to his/her head master or head mistress or a teacher of his/her school who can provide a confidential appraisal of the applicant. The completed and signed ‘Letter of Recommendation’ shall be placed in an envelope and sealed by the person making the recommendation and the applicant shall collect and send the recommendation letter with the application.
The Principal or Head of the Branches of subjects in the Institution where the applicant is enrolled shall attest copies of mark lists and rank certificates. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

iii

The applicant shall send the Application by Registered Mail/Speed Post to:

Nawas Abdulla

I/640, Tharakandathil House

Neelathope, Asokapuram

Aluva -  683101, KeralaState

India

not later than December 15, 2009. Do not send any original mark lists or rank certificate. PROGRAM will NOT return any documents to the applicants.

Scholarships will be awarded before January 15, 2009. Students who are awarded scholarships will be required to submit a photograph and a signed affidavit affirming that they understood the terms and conditions under which the PROGRAM scholarships are awarded and renewed.

PROGRAM treasurer shall send the scholarship award check to the student. Alternately, the scholarship recipient may open a bank account and provide the bank account number to PROGRAM for direct deposit of scholarship payment.

A student, who is awarded scholarship in the first year, will continue to receive the scholarship for the remaining three years of studies if he/she secures an average of 70% marks every year. It is the responsibility of the student to submit certified copies of mark lists as soon as they become available to show proof of securing required marks. The student shall also submit an affidavit each year stating complete details of any scholarship or financial aid he/she is receiving from organizations other than Nidhi Kadir Watson Program, Houston, Texas, USA. Refundable educational loans from banks and other financial institutions will not disqualify applicants.