Accenture Awards Scholarships to Ten Exceptional American Indian Students.

Scholarships Provide More Than $100,000 to Support Graduate and Undergraduate Education 

NEW YORK -- Ten American Indian students from across the United States will continue their education with the help of scholarship funding from Accenture's American Indian Scholarship Fund. The students will be honored this evening at a celebration event being held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in Washington DC.

More than 140 students applied for this year's Accenture scholarship program, which sought out the highest-achieving American Indian and Alaska Native students seeking degrees and careers in technology, professional and business fields. Candidates were evaluated based on academic excellence, leadership ability, and a commitment to American Indian culture and community. Candidates were also required to provide proof of enrollment in a federally recognized American Indian/Alaskan Native tribe.

"Accenture is honored to contribute to the higher education of these exceptional women and men," said Randy Willis, Senior Executive Sponsor of Accenture's American Indian interest group. "While there were many deserving candidates, these students stood out as future leaders in the American Indian community."

Six Accenture Scholars will receive undergraduate scholarships toward completing four-year baccalaureate degrees:

-- Laura J. Graveley, (Muscogee) of Okmulgee, OK, will attend Stanford University 

-- Nolan Smith-Kaprosey, (Bay Mills Chippewa) of Fort Snelling, MN, will attend Yale University

-- Gary L. Richards Jr., (Oglala Lakota Sioux) of Pine Ridge, SD, will attend Creighton University

-- Brittnea S. Nemecek, (Choctaw) of Durant, OK, will attend East Central University

-- Jana V. Lekanoff, (Qawalangin) of Unalaska, AK, will attend Cornell University

-- Terra L. Branson, (Muscogee) of Okmulgee, OK, will attend Dartmouth College

Four Accenture Fellows will receive graduate scholarships towards completing advanced or professional degrees:

-- Jon P. Swan, (Chippewa-Cree Rocky Boy's) of Box Elder, MT, will attend the Harvard Kennedy School of Government

-- Jay H. Calhoun, (Cherokee) of Tahlequah, OK, will attend Dartmouth College

-- Jeri A. Azure, (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) of Belcourt, ND, will attend the University of North Dakota

-- Dana R. Arviso, (Navajo) of Fort Defiance, AZ, will attend the University of Washington

In addition to the scholarships, these recipients will be eligible for summer internships with Accenture as first-year graduate students or junior-year undergraduate students.

"I am pleased to be a part of this evening's presentation and proud to see two students from Eastern Oklahoma bestowed with this honor," U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, Oklahoma, said. "Education is the best investment we can make and I want to commend Accenture for playing a part in that."

These scholarships are one part of Accenture's commitment to the American Indian community in the United States and part of its global corporate citizenship program. Accenture's American Indian Scholarship Fund was created in September 2004, at the same time that Accenture supported the opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Accenture acts as a management consultant and information technology services advisor to the Museum.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. With deep industry and business process expertise, broad global resources and a proven track record, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills and technologies to help clients improve their performance. With more than 126,000 people in 48 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$15.55 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2005. Its home page is www.accenture.com.