News

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

Application deadlines fast approaching for Sallie Mae Fund Scholarships

Fund to award $2.5 million in college scholarships in 2004

RESTON, Va., March 16, 2004—Time is running out for students interested in applying for $2.5 million in college scholarships made available through The Sallie Mae Fund’s community-based initiative, Project Access. The initiative targets under-served populations to increase access to higher education by addressing three key barriers—awareness of financial aid, academic performance and financial need.

The Sallie Mae Fund is helping to increase access to higher education for ethnic minorities and under-served students through the following scholarship programs:

  • The Sallie Mae Fund First in My Family® Scholarship Program: The Sallie Mae Fund developed the First in My Family program in partnership with the Hispanic College Fund, to offer scholarships to Hispanic-American students who are first in their family to attend college. Selected students receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000. Deadline: April 15.
  • The Sallie Mae Fund American Dream Scholarship Program: Developed in partnership with the United Negro College Fund, the American Dream program offers scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 to African-American students with demonstrated financial need. Deadline: April 15.
  • The Sallie Mae Fund Unmet Need Scholarship Program: The Unmet Need Scholarship Program is intended to help financial aid officers meet the needs of full-time undergraduate students whose financial aid packages fall short by $1,000 or more. Open to families with a combined income of less than $30,000, Unmet Need scholarships provide a “last dollar” resource when no other funds are available. Deadline: May 31.
  • The Sallie Mae 911 Education Fund: Created in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the 911 Education Fund provides scholarship dollars to children of those who were killed or permanently disabled in the attacks. Deadline: Applications accepted year-round.

    To be eligible for The Sallie Mae Fund Scholarship Programs, students must be accepted and enrolled at a Title IV eligible, accredited postsecondary two- or four-year college, university, vocational, or technical school in the United States or Puerto Rico and meet program-specific eligibility requirements. Scholarship program eligibility criteria and applications for the 2004-2005 academic year are available for download from The Sallie Mae Fund’s Web site, www.thesalliemaefund.org.

    In addition, The Sallie Mae Fund awards one, $1,000 scholarship to a future college student at each of its nationwide “Paying for College” workshops. This year, The Fund will bring this free, informational workshop series to more than 130 communities. A listing of upcoming workshops can be found on The Sallie Mae Fund’s Web site.

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.