A college junior who lost a Kentucky merit scholarship when he decided to major in religion is suing the state, claiming it discriminates against students wanting to obtain degrees in religious studies by denying them funding.
According to the lawsuit, Cumberland College junior Michael Nash was awarded $2,900 under the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship program in his freshman and sophomore years.
The lottery-funded scholarships, administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, go to high school students in the state as a reward for good grades and college-board scores.
In October, when Nash declared philosophy-religion as his major, the private college notified him that the scholarship funding would be cut off starting next semester, the suit said.
The lawsuit is seeking to strike down regulations for the program that prevent the state from awarding the scholarships to students seeking degrees in theology, divinity or religious education, the suit said.
The American Center for Law and Justice, an organization founded by televangelist Pat Robertson, filed the suit on Nash's behalf, claiming the state policy violates the 21-year-old's freedom of religion and speech and equal protection rights.
"If a student meets the residency and academic requirements needed to receive scholarship funds, those funds cannot be withheld because a student decides to study religion," said Francis Manion, senior counsel for the group.
Rick Casey, general counsel for the education authority, said Friday he could not comment specifically because he had not yet seen the suit.
Casey said the restrictions on the use of scholarship funds are based on a section of the state constitution that limits expenditure of public funds to aid any sectarian purpose.