47 students from 10 university institutions became winners of the contest „Merit Scholarships-2006”. The awarding ceremony is to take place on May 25, at 18.30, in the headquarters of the Culture and Rest Center „Moscova”. 5 students will get the Scholarship of I degree, about 7,000 lei each, 12 will benefit of the Scholarship of II degree, 5,000 lei, and other 30 students – Scholarship of III degree, 3,000 lei. The winners were selected out of a total number of 338 students from 20 universities of the country, as result of evaluating the files submitted and the essays written on the topic „Speech in the Parliament”. The contest „Merit Scholarships” was initiated in 1996 by Soros-Moldova Foundation. The program was launched in order to encourage the academic, scientific and extra-curricular performances of the students of Moldova. Since 2001, this initiative is supported by the Commercial Bank „Moldova Agroindbank”, and since 2004 - by the Company „Voxtel” as well. Since 2003, the contest „Merit Scholarships” is held under the aegis of the Rectors’ Council of Moldova. Along those 11 editions of the contest, over 780 students benefited of Merit Scholarships, and the awarding ceremony became a notable event in the universitary life of Moldova.