The best 62 students from 12 Moldovan universities, laureates of the contest “Merit Scholarships - 2008”, have been awarded for their successes. The awarding ceremony took place on June 11at the National Philharmonics in Chisinau, Info-Prim Neo reports. The winners have been selected out of 383 wannabes from 20 universities, after assessing their files and essays on the topic “Youth for the state, state for the youth”. They awarded scholarships of I, II and III degrees. 40 students rated as 3rd degree got by 4,000 lei, 19 2nd degree ones got by 6,000 lei, as the 1st degree students got by 10,000 lei. Education Minister Larisa Savga said the best students were selected, the ones who are “the expression of quality, excellence and performance.” Speaking on the Government's proclaiming 2008 as the Youth Year, one of the 1st degree scholars, Adrian Lupusor, a student at the Economy Academy, called on the state's leadership to cooperate more fruitfully with the youth. “The youth in Basarabia need not only support from the state, but also friendship,” he said. Larisa Savga responded they planned to set up a “inter-university senate” which would allow for a better cooperation between the state and the student. The program “Merit Scholarships” was launched by the Soros Foundation-Moldova back in 1996 to encourage academic, scientific and extra-curriculum performances of Moldovan students. Since 2001, the initiative has been supported by Moldova Agroindbank, and since 2004 – also by Orange Moldova. Since 2003, the contest is organized by the Educational Advising Center, under the aegis of the Rectors Council. The head of the Educational Advising Center, Angela Muset, thanked the sponsors and media partners – your Info-Prim Neo among them – and handed them merit diplomas. Angela Muset encouraged companies to contribute to promote the values of the Moldovan education.