Scholarships will help 2,282 low- to moderate-income students pay for college

USA Funds awards $3.4 million in scholarships for college

INDIANAPOLIS — USA Funds^®, the nation’s leading education loan guarantor, announces the award of nearly $3.4 million in scholarships to help 2,282 low- to moderate-income students nationwide pursue higher education.

USA Funds awarded $1 million to 667 first-time recipients of USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships^® for the 2009-2010 academic year. In addition, USA Funds awarded nearly $2.4 million in renewal scholarships to 1,615 students who previously had received awards under the program.

“Especially in these difficult economic times, 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 eight years, USA Funds’ national scholarship program has awarded nearly $54 million in scholarships to 16,000 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.

Scholarships awarded under this program to residents of Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington are made possible with the support of College Spark Washington.

For a list of first-time recipients of USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships for 2009-2010, visit the USA Funds Web site.