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Students at a Paying for College Bus Tour stop, Reading PA

19th annual Sallie Mae 10K raises more than $100,000 for D.C. College Access Program

RESTON, Va., Apr. 28, 2002—The 19th annual Sallie Mae 10K, held today in Washington D.C.'s West Potomac Park, raised more than $100,000 for the District of Columbia College Access Program (DC-CAP), a non-profit organization that encourages and enables D.C. public high school students to enter and graduate from college. The Sallie Mae 10K is sponsored by The Sallie Mae Fund, the philanthropic arm of Sallie Mae, the country's leading provider of education funding.

"Partnering with Sallie Mae for this race will help us to enroll more than three thousand students in college this fall," said Argelia Rodriguez, executive director, D.C. College Access Program.

Winners share $18,000 in prize money. This year's top finishers include:

Titus Munji (29:30) and Elena Paramonova (34:09) finished first among men and women respectively.
Top local male and female finishers were Andre Williams (30:16) of Arlington, Va. and Alison Holinka (36:15) of Williamsburg, Va.
The top wheelchair race competitor was Geoff Hopkins of Alexandria, Va.
Participants in the Family Fun Run were all winners.

"This year's event was a tremendous success," said Albert L. Lord, vice chairman and chief executive officer, Sallie Mae, who ran in the race himself. "We saw a record turnout, stiff competition and raised money for a very worthwhile cause. We are extremely proud to sponsor DC-CAP and support their efforts to open the doors of higher education to D.C. public high school students."

This weekend's activities also included DC-CAP's annual college fair, sponsored by The Sallie Mae Fund. Hundreds of students and parents received information at the fair about the college application and financial aid process. They also learned about DC-CAP's mentoring and scholarship programs and met with representatives from more than twenty-five regional colleges and universities.

For more information, contact:

Stephanie Tew
703/810-7136

Martha Holler
703/810-5178

The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, achieves its mission—to increase access to a post–secondary education for America's students—by supporting programs and initiatives that help open doors to higher education, prepare families for their investment, and bridge the gap when no one else can. For more information visit www.salliemaefund.org.

The District of Columbia College Access Program (DC-CAP), a non-profit organization funded by Washington-area companies, foundations and individuals like you, encourages and enables DC public high school students to enter and graduate from college. In partnership with the District of Columbia Public School system, DC-CAP works to provide counseling and financial assistance to students who might otherwise never have the opportunity to go to college.