Program promotes access to education for needy students
USA Funds Awards $3.7 Million in Scholarships to 2,519 Students
INDIANAPOLIS — USA Funds®, the nation's leading education-loan guarantor, has awarded 2,519 scholarships totaling more than $3.7 million to deserving college-bound students nationwide. USA Funds Access to Education ScholarshipsT assist students in financial need—particularly those who are either members of ethnic minority groups or are physically disabled—as they finance their higher education.
A total of $3 million of the awards will go to 2,023 first-time recipients. In addition, USA Funds is renewing 496 scholarships totaling $732,750.
"We're pleased to provide these scholarships to help lower the financial barriers to higher education for qualified students," said Carl C. Dalstrom, USA Funds president and CEO. "USA Funds provides these need-based scholarships with the goal of ensuring that every deserving student has the opportunity to pursue postsecondary education."
The new scholarship recipients were chosen from more than 11,000 applications from qualified students planning to enroll or currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs at accredited two- or four-year colleges, universities or vocational/technical schools. Each full-time undergraduate and graduate student will receive an award of $1,500; each half-time undergraduate will receive $750. Students who maintain grade-point averages of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale may receive renewal scholarships annually until the students receive their final degrees or certificates, or until the total award to a student reaches $6,000, whichever comes first.
Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America (CSFA), the nation's largest private-sector scholarship and educational-support organization, administers the program.
For a list of recipients of USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships, visit http://www.usafunds.org/planning/access_to_education_scholarship/2002/index.htm on the USA Funds Web site. Information about USA Funds' 2003-2004 scholarship program will be posted on its Web site beginning this fall.