INDIANA UNIVERSITY PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Administration Building, Suite 136 355 N. Lansing Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-2896 317-274-7711 Fax: 317-274-5457

NINA MASON PULLIAM CHARITABLE TRUST ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WITH IUPUI; DEADLINE TO APPLY IS JUNE 15

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has announced the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program to underwrite scholarships for nontraditional college students at IUPUI and Ivy Tech State College, Indianapolis Campus. The trust will sponsor five students at IUPUI and 15 students at Ivy Tech State College each year, with the first cohorts of Nina Scholars registering for the 2001 Fall semester.

"Education was very important to Nina Mason Pulliam. Nina saw education as a crucial tool to self-sufficiency and personal fulfillment," said Trustee Nancy M. Russell. "The Nina Scholars program is an exciting, new dimension for the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. A primary giving focus for the Trust is helping people in need; the Nina Scholars program takes our mission to another level."

"The individuals we seek to help through the Nina Scholars program often face insurmountable barriers to obtaining higher education," stated Harriet M. Ivey, Trust president and CEO. "With the Trust minimizing the economic barriers and IUPUI and Ivy Tech providing special outreach and support to each of the Nina Scholars, together we believe we have a strong chance for success."

"Many of the nonprofit organizations the Trust funds through its regular grant program serve individuals who could be eligible for this type of educational support. Our plan includes forming relationships with these organizations and the participating colleges and universities to provide additional hope and opportunity to those who might not have dreamed of a college degree as a means of achieving self-sufficiency," Ivey added.

The Trust is interested in providing scholarships to: adults 25 years or older, who have dependents in their family unit; young adults, ages 18 to 25, who have been raised through the child welfare system and have no form of financial support; and college-age youth and adults with physical disabilities. Applicants receiving first priority will be those with a household income of 80 percent or less of the median income for their geographic area. All applicants must be residents of Indiana and U.S. citizens.

Support for the Nina Scholars will include full resident tuition, book expenses and student fees. In addition, an annual living allowance of $2,500 may be applied to expenses such as housing, transportation, childcare and health insurance.

"The key to success in the new American economy will be the baccalaureate degree," IUPUI Chancellor Gerald Bepko said. "Keys to increasing the disappointing percentage of Hoosier population who have completed at least a baccalaureate degree include access provided by financial support and encouragement by example. As the Nina Scholars are successful, their stories of achievement will inspire other students and family members to seek higher education."

For information about applying, contact Beth Barnette at IUPUI at 274-5516.

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust seeks to help people in need, especially women, children and families; to protect animals and nature; and to enrich community life in Arizona and Indiana, the states Nina Mason Pulliam called home. The Trust has also developed a Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program in Arizona with Arizona State University and Maricopa Community Colleges.

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