NSU Student Cristina Groschel Named 1998-1999 H. Wayne Huizenga Scholar.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 1999--

Nova Southeastern University and the Florida Independent College Fund (FICF) announced recently that Cristina Groschel of Coral Springs was selected as one of 24 H. Wayne Huizenga Scholars attending member schools of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF).

Groschel, a 19-year-old undergraduate student in Legal Studies at NSU's Farquhar Center for Undergraduate Studies, will receive a $3,000 scholarship.

Scholarship recipients are selected in their senior year of study based on academic performance, community involvement and state residency. The $3,000 scholarship includes $1,500 from H. Wayne Huizenga, plus a matching $1,500 from the State of Florida's Ethics in Business Program.

In addition to being named an H. Wayne Huizenga Scholar, Groschel has received numerous awards and honors including the NSU Honor Award, the Book Award, Florida Academic Scholarship, Wasserman Scholarship, and NSU Professional Liberal Studies Scholarship. She is involved in Student Government, is a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society, and was nominated for Student of the Year. She became a student at NSU at the age of 16 after graduating from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Coral Springs. She is expected to graduate from NSU in December 1999 and plans to continue her studies in law school.

"We believe very strongly that partnership with the corporate community will be vital in our efforts to continue to provide students the quality of higher education our schools now offer," said George Kirkpatrick, executive director of ICUF. `We are grateful H. Wayne Huizenga recognized this idea and stepped up to pledge significant financial support."

H. Wayne Huizenga is Chairman and Co-CEO of Republic Industries, Inc., a diversified service company, and Chairman of Extended Stay America which operates in the lodging industry.

Huizenga is also Chairman of Huizenga Holdings, Inc. and is the sole or majority owner of several service businesses. He has numerous real estate interests throughout Florida that include office buildings, warehouses, shopping centers and underdeveloped properties as well as the Mariott's Harbor Beach Resort Hotel located in Fort Lauderdale.

Mr. Huizenga's community involvement honors include "Humanitarian of the Year" by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. In addition, he and his wife, Marti, were recognized as "Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year" by the Greater Broward/Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. He was also honored by the Fort Lauderdale NAACP for his contributions to its programs.

Huizenga sits as a board member of many civic organizations including the Florida Council of 100, the Broward Economic Development Board, the Salvation Army of Broward County, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, and is a past Chairman of the Florida Council on Economics.

The H. Wayne Huizenga Scholarship Program is administered by the Florida Independent College Fund, a non-profit foundation for program and resources development for the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. FICF is dedicated to providing financial assistance to students attending Florida's 24 independent colleges and universities.