Contributions will enhance access to education for minority students
USA Funds awards $300,000 to national scholarship groups
INDIANAPOLIS — USA Funds®, the nation’s leading education-loan guarantor, has announced the award of $300,000 in contributions to three national scholarship organizations that promote access to higher education for minority students. USA Funds has awarded $100,000 each to the American Indian College Fund, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the United Negro College Fund .
In announcing the awards, William R. Neale, chairman of USA Funds' board of trustees noted, "In keeping with our mission to promote access to higher education, we are pleased to support for a third consecutive year the scholarship programs of these three outstanding organizations. These contributions address the findings of a federal advisory committee, which reported that members of ethnic-minority groups will account for a large part of the future growth in the college-going population and that these students will have significant financial need."
Among the previous beneficiaries of USA Funds' support to the national scholarship organizations is Carlene Walking Eagle, a nursing student who was one of more than 170 tribal-college students to receive a scholarship supported by USA Funds' contribution in 2003.
"I feel fortunate to have all this support and encouragement from everyone to pursue my dream," said Walking Eagle, who received an associate degree from Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, N.D. "The scholarship helped me with off-campus living expenses and with tuition."
Walking Eagle now is completing her nursing education at the University of North Dakota. Her goal is to work as a nurse in a hospital emergency room.
USA Funds' contributions to the national scholarship organizations complement USA Funds' own $3.15-million scholarship programs, which assist students in financial need. Up to half of USA Funds' scholarship awards will go to students who are members of ethnic-minority groups or are physically disabled.