Awards help needy students pay for higher education

USA Funds accepts applications for $3.15 million in scholarships

INDIANAPOLIS — USA Funds^®, the nation’s leading education-loan guarantor, announces that applications now are available for a total of $3.15 million in scholarships to assist college students who demonstrate financial need.

USA Funds will award up to $2.85 million in renewable USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships^® to qualified students nationwide.

To mark its 25th year of service as the designated guarantor of federal education loans for the state of Hawaii, USA Funds also will award up to $300,000 in USA Funds Hawaii Silver Anniversary Scholarships™ to help residents of Hawaii pursue postsecondary studies.

Both programs offer $1,500 scholarships to qualified full-time undergraduate and graduate students and $750 scholarships to qualified half-time undergraduates. Applicants for the scholarships must be enrolled or plan to enroll in coursework at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational/technical school beginning with the fall 2004 term through Feb. 1, 2005.

"We're pleased to offer deserving students financial assistance to help meet the cost of higher learning," said Carl C. Dalstrom, USA Funds president and CEO. "By providing these scholarships, USA Funds is working to close the gap between college-going rates of lower-income students and their classmates from higher-income families."

To qualify for an award, applications must be postmarked by March 15, 2004. Apply for a scholarship on USA Funds' Web site.