Yestrday, in October 7^th, the chairman of Ventspils City Council Aivars Lembergs, the alternate of the chairman in the infrastructure field in the City Council – Jānis Vītoliņš and the rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) Kārlis Krēsliņš in a festive mood issued scholarships to ten VUAS students for their excellence in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) field.

A total of fifteen applicants applied for the contest, they were evaluated in accordance with the Ventspils City Council scholarship for excellence in the ICT field conditions of the regulations.

Six of the applicants were high school graduates – today, the VUAS Information Technology faculty bachelor and the 1^st degree professional higher education study program first year students, which were evaluated by comparing the following criteria:

• participation in the international mathematics, physics or computer science Olympiads;
• award winning place in state or similar Olympiads in mathematics, physics or computer science;
• participation in the Latvian pupil business training program organized by “Junior Achievement Latvia”, getting in the national level finale with a training program product in the ICT field;
• earned an award winning place in the “Ventspils IT challenge” contest;
• the evaluation of skills acquisition in the centralized math and physics or computer science exams is not lower than 75%;
• first degree diploma in the state scientific research paper conference, if the scientific research paper is written in conjunction with mathematics, physics or computer science

As a result of the evaluation of the applicants, the Scholarship Commission recognized four applicants as eligible to receive Ventspils City Council scholarships for excellence in the ICT field:

1. Daniels Fišers;
2. Justīne Širina;
3. Samanta Veinberga;
4. Nauris Mālītis.

Nine students, who have VUAS 1^st degree professional higher education, Bachelor and Master’s study program students, as well as, current Master’s study program first year students were evaluated, taking into account that the average grade of the previous semester must be at least 8 (for the first year students in Master’s also the average grade of the previous level higher education diploma is taken into account), as well as, taking into account the following criteria:

• giving a presentation in international, Latvia scale or VUAS scientific conferences;
• preparation of a scientific publication;
• participation in VUAS scientific research projects;
• a successfully realized business idea in the business incubator;
• successful participation in a local scale or international contests in the ICT field;
• successful participation in various events in connection with the popularization of the VUAS ICT field.

As a result of the evaluation of the applicants, the Scholarship Commission recognized six applicants as eligible to receive Ventspils City Council scholarships for excellence in the ICT field:

1. Bils Gūtfricis;
2. Roberts Ivanovs;
3. Arvis Krafts;
4. Arina Solovjova;
5. Kirilo Vasiļiskovs;
6. Kristofers Volkovs.

The scholarship for excellence in the ICT field is granted every year to no more than 10 best students. The scholarship is granted for 10 months, with a 200 EUR payout every month.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences expresses gratitude to Ventspils City Council for support and participation in the development of the University.