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

The Sallie Mae Fund and ABC27 preview television program "Paying for college and what you should know".

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell Joins Students and Families for Launch of Educational Program About Planning and Paying for College.

Harrisburg, Pa., April 9, 2003—The Sallie Mae Fund will launch a new, educational television program “Paying for College and What You Should Know” this evening in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The program, designed to educate students and families about planning and paying for college, makes its broadcast premiere on Thursday, April 10th from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Harrisburg’s abc27, and will air in six other cities from April 11, 2003 to April 27, 2003.

Local high school students and their families will gather at Susquehanna Township High School with special guests Governor Ed Rendell, Dennis Buterbaugh of abc27, and Sallie Mae CEO Albert Lord, for a special screening of the educational television program. The program is designed to educate students and families about how to plan and prepare for college—from the importance of continuing education beyond high school, to the affordability of higher education through various types of financial aid.

“Students and families need to know that college is affordable and accessible,” said Albert L. Lord, Vice Chairman and CEO of Sallie Mae. “The Sallie Mae Fund is committed to opening the doors of educational opportunity as widely as possible. By providing information about financial aid to those who need it most, we hope to help close the financial aid information divide in communities across the country.”

“In today’s economy, businesses need highly trained workers and more and more students need college skills to compete and succeed,” said Governor Rendell. “Higher education is one of my highest priorities and I applaud The Sallie Mae Fund for their leadership in helping to educate families in Pennsylvania about the resources available to them.”

“Getting information about college financial aid into the hands of students and families is critical,” said Dennis Buterbaugh of abc27. “We hope that by watching this show, more students and their families will know that college is possible.”

“Paying for College and What You Should Know” is part of Project Access, The Sallie Mae Fund's recently announced three-year, $15 million commitment designed to improve access to higher education by targeting under-served populations with information, resources and scholarship dollars. The thirty-minute program will air initially on eight ABC network-affiliated television stations in seven cities. The “Paying for College” show will initially air from April 10, 2003 to April 27, 2003. A complete list of airdates, times and stations carrying the program is attached.

In conjunction with the television programs, free information about planning and paying for college will be available. Those interested in receiving a free guide on planning and paying for college can call toll-free 800/625-6108. Public service television announcements in the seven markets will coincide with the program and impart the message that a college education is attainable.

“Paying for College and What You Should Know”

Initial Cities and Air Dates

Birmingham, AL WBMA-TV ABC 33
First Airing Friday, April 11th , 8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (CDT)
Encore Airings Sunday, April 13th , 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 27th , 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Charleston, SC WCIV-TV ABC 4
First Airing Friday, April 11th , 9:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Encore Airings Sunday, April 13th , 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, April 27th , 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Harrisburg- WHTM-TV ABC 27
Lancaster, PA First Airing Thursday, April 10th, 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Encore Airings Sunday April 13th , 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 27th , 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Little Rock, AR KATV-TV ABC 7
First Airing Friday, April 11th , 8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (CDT)
Encore Airings Saturday, April 12th , 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 26th , 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Lynchburg- WSET-TV ABC 13
Roanoke,VA First Airing Friday, April 11th , 9:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Encore Airings Sunday April 13th , 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, April 27th , 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Tulsa, OK KTUL-TV ABC 8
First Airing Friday, April 11th , 8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (CDT)
Encore Airings Sunday, April 13th , 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 27th , 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Washington, DC WJLA-TV ABC 7
First Airing Friday, April 11th , 9:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Encore Airings Sunday, April 13th , 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 27th , 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Washington, DC Newschannel 8
First Airing Friday, April 11th , 10:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Encore Airings Saturday, April 12th , 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 26th, 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

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.