Ten Junior Achievement Students Win Money for College During National Scholarship Month

May 18, 2006

Each Student to Receive $1,000 for College From Nelnet, One of the Nation's Leading Student Loan Providers

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 18, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Ten JA Worldwide(TM) (Junior Achievement) students are one step closer to paying for their college education, thanks to a $1,000 scholarship from student loan provider Nelnet, Inc. (National Education Loan Network). Nelnet awarded 10 national scholarships to qualified students as part of its ongoing support of Junior Achievement. The scholarships are awarded based on the students' scholastic achievement, Junior Achievement involvement, and financial need.

The 10 students receiving scholarships are:

    Lyndsey Neilsen of St. Peters, Mo. (Fort Zumwalt South High School)
    Andrew Mikusch of St. Louis, Mo. (Lindbergh High School)
    Michelle Neely of Toledo, Ohio (Calvin M. Woodward High School)
    Kevin McCormley of Dravosburg, Pa. (McKeesport Area High School)
    Ronald Tisdale of Perrysburg, Ohio (Perrysburg High School)
    Vrudhi Patel of Houston, Texas (Alief Hastings High School)
    Lawrence Laryea of Houston, Texas (Home schooled)
    Hannah Hudson of Dalton, Ga. (Dalton High School)
    Allen Harber of North Tustin, Calif. (El Modena High School)
    Benjamin Metzger of Franklin, Ky. (Franklin-Simpson High School)

"We are committed to helping as many young people as possible attend college," said Don Bouc, President Emeritus of Nelnet and a member of the JA Worldwide board of directors. "Junior Achievement does a phenomenal job of helping students understand that they can pursue their educational dreams. Whether it's by awarding these worthy students with scholarships or by making online financial aid information available to parents and students, Nelnet wants to make young people's dreams possible by connecting them to the resources that count."

Nelnet is JA Worldwide's national sponsor of the JA Financial Aid Center, an online destination located inside the Student Center area of Junior Achievement's Web site, www.ja.org. The JA Financial Aid Center is geared toward the 400,000 high school students nationwide who participate in JA programs. The general public is also invited to use the center and its college planning calendar, student loan application information, easy-to-use budgeting calculators, loan information for parents, and more. In addition, Nelnet's staff of college planning advisors is available toll-free at (866) 866-7372 or via e-mail at collegeplanning@nelnet.net to assist students with questions or additional information.

About Nelnet

Nelnet (NYSE: NNI) 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 $21.3 billion as of March 31, 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. For more information, visit www.nelnet.net.

About JA Worldwide(TM) (Junior Achievement)

JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and entrepreneurship. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA Worldwide provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. JA Worldwide offers educational programs that focus on seven key content areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and career development. Today, 142 offices reach approximately four million students in the United States, with more than three million students served by operations in 96 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

(code #: nnig)

SOURCE JA Worldwide; Nelnet, Inc.

Stephanie Bell of JA Worldwide, +1-719-540-6171, sbell@ja.org; or Sheila Odom of
Nelnet, Inc., +1-402-458-2329, nelnetcommunications@nelnet.net
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