LINCOLN, Neb., Sept 25, 2006 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- Nelnet (NYSE: NNI) announced today it has donated $50,000 to support Hispanic students planning to attend community colleges or four-year colleges and universities in the state of California. The grant was made to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation's leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education.
The HSF/Nelnet Scholarship Program has been established to increase educational opportunities for Hispanic college students in California. With college tuition and related costs continuing to increase, obtaining the financial resources needed to support a college education constitutes the most serious challenge for many Hispanic families.
Nelnet regards charitable giving as a corporate responsibility. In conjunction with the Nelnet Foundation, Nelnet awards more than one million dollars annually in scholarships and donations. Nelnet is increasing its efforts to broaden the spectrum of educational products and services available to Hispanic youth.
"We are pleased to support Hispanic students' efforts in pursuing their educational dreams and future success," said David Bottegal, Chief Executive Officer of Nelnet's Education Services division. "Nelnet is committed to providing higher education resources to expand student access to postsecondary education and is proud to assist the Hispanic Scholarship Fund in reaching its goal to double the number of Hispanics with college degrees."
According to Sara Martinez Tucker, HSF President and Chief Executive Officer, getting the financial resources needed to support a college education can be a serious challenge for Hispanic families. "We are grateful to Nelnet, for supporting Hispanics in higher education," she said. "An educated Hispanic population is essential to the future productivity and growth of the country's economy."
About Hispanic Scholarship Fund
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the nation's leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education. Founded in 1975 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, HSF's vision is to strengthen the country by advancing college education among Hispanic Americans. In support of its mission to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees, HSF provides the Latino community more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. With more than 30 years of history, HSF has awarded more than 78,000 scholarships totaling $195 million to Latinos from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
About Nelnet
Nelnet is one of the leading education finance companies in the United States and is focused on providing quality products and services to students and schools nationwide. Nelnet ranks among the nation's leaders in terms of total net student loan assets with $22.4 billion as of June 30, 2006. Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, Nelnet originates, consolidates, securitizes, holds, and services student loans, principally loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program of the U.S. Department of Education.
Additional information is available at www.nelnet.net.
(code #: nnig)
SOURCE Nelnet
Eric Solomon of Nelnet, +1-202-659-2258
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