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

Deadline Approaching: Applications for $1 Million in Scholarships from The Sallie Mae Fund Are Due by April 15

RESTON, Va., March 30, 2006—April 15 is the deadline to apply for two of The Sallie Mae Fund's largest scholarship programs for the 2006–2007 academic year. Students are encouraged to apply online at www.salliemaefund.org before time runs out.

American Dream Scholarships
The American Dream program was developed in partnership with the United Negro College Fund, and offers scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 to African-American students with demonstrated financial need. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with a minimum 2.5 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), who meet Pell Grant eligibility criteria, and are enrolled full-time at approved, accredited, undergraduate institutions. Scholarship awards through this program total $500,000.

First in My Family Scholarships
The First in My Family program was developed in partnership with the Hispanic College Fund. Hispanic-American students who are the first in their family to attend college are eligible for scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000. The program is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled as full–time undergraduate students at approved, accredited institutions. Students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Scholarship awards through this program total $500,000.

Separately, students have until May 31 to apply for The Sallie Mae Fund's Unmet Need Scholarship, which is open to families with a combined income of $30,000 or less, and is intended to supplement financial aid packages that fall more than $1,000 short of students' financial need. Recipients are selected based on financial need and scholarships range from $1,000 to $3,800.

The Latino public school population in the District has grown by more than 50 percent during the past 15 years, with Latino students now accounting for 10 percent of public school enrollment. The arrival of new immigrants has spurred much of this growth. Nearly three–quarters of Latino students at D.C. public schools have limited English proficiency and, as a group, have not made performance gains during the past five years.

For more details on The Sallie Mae Fund's scholarship programs, please visit www.salliemaefund.org.

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.