Scholarships Will help 5,365 students pay for college
INDIANAPOLIS - USA Funds®, the nation's leading education loan guarantor, announces the award of nearly $8 million in scholarships to help 5,365 low-to-moderate-income students nationwide pursue higher education.
USA Funds awarded $3.2 million in scholarships to 2,135 first-time recipients of USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships® for the
2008-2009 academic year. In addition, USA Funds awarded nearly $4.8 million in renewal scholarships to 3,230 students who previously had received awards under the program.
"As the cost of college continues to rise, these awards can make a real difference in helping students pursue higher education," said Carl C. Dalstrom, USA Funds president and CEO. "During the past seven years, USA Funds' national scholarship program has awarded more than $50 million in scholarships to more than 15,000 students nationwide."
To qualify for the scholarships, students must come from households with annual incomes of $35,000 or less. Full-time and half-time undergraduate students, as well as full-time graduate and professional students, are eligible for $1,500 scholarships. Although students from all ethnic backgrounds may receive the awards, the program gives special consideration to students who are members of ethnic minority groups and those who are physically disabled.
For a list of first-time USA Funds Access to Education Scholarship recipients for 2008-2009, visit www.usafunds.org/scholarship.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, USA Funds is a nonprofit corporation that works to enhance postsecondary education preparedness, access and success by providing and supporting financial and other valued services.
During the year ending Sept. 30, 2007, USA Funds guaranteed education loans totaling $25.8 billion for students and parents throughout the nation. USA Funds serves as the designated guarantor of federal education loans in eight states: Arizona, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada and Wyoming. USA Funds also invests $16.3 million annually in scholarships and outreach programs that advance its mission of support to higher education. For more information about USA Funds, visit www.usafunds.org.
Posted 08/13/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Posting of press releases is done as a service to Members and does not imply endorsement or support by NASFAA. NASFAA does not review this information for content or accuracy.
