His academic prowess and his family's income made him a perfect selection for Washington's Promise Scholarship, which goes annually to more than 6,000 of the state's brightest students who come from modest means. Indeed, the state awarded him $1,125 in 1999 for his freshman year at Northwest College, a Kirkland school affiliated with the Assembly of God denomination.

But not long into his first year, Davey's scholarship vanished. He had committed the one unpardonable sin that would disqualify him from state aid: He would major in pastoral ministries and intended to become a minister.

Now he may get his scholarship money and a religious degree after all. A federal appeals court yesterday sided with Davey, 22, saying that the state law violated his constitutional right to practice his religion.

Friday, July 19, 2002

Law on church-state separation violated student's rights, court rules