REMINDER/May -- National Scholarship Month 2003 to Focus on Mobilizing Corporate Support for Scholarships for Students.

Business Editors

REMINDER...for Thursday (May 1)

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2003

By the year 2029, there will be 19 million more jobs than educated workers to fill them, according to the Business-Higher Education Forum.

Tuition is also rising four times faster than the average family income, according to the U.S. News & World Report's "Paying for College" issue.

In order to raise awareness about these issues tied to access to higher education, "National Scholarship Month -- Scholarships: Lighting the Future" in May 2003 will focus on "Mobilizing Corporate Support for Students through Scholarships." A panel will discuss these issues and the initiatives they are pursuing to support access to higher education and help resolve the anticipated workforce crisis at the National Scholarship Month Kickoff, an initiative of Scholarship America(SM), on May 2 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The following organizations will be represented on the panel: USA Funds(R), the nation's leading student loan guarantor; AXA Financial, one of the world's premier financial services company; Easy Spirit, a leading women's shoe and clothing brand; and AOL Time Warner, the world's leading media and entertainment company.

"The road to getting an education is full of obstacles," said Mateo Santos, a Capital Group Companies scholarship recipient and student at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas, working toward a Multimedia degree. "One of the most difficult is having the finances to make it possible. In a world where a college education is necessary for success, not having the means to do so can be disheartening. However, when companies and businesses are generous enough to share their wealth in the form of scholarships, the road to success is made so much easier."

Dr. William C. Nelsen, president of Scholarship America(SM) agreed: "Mateo is just one of thousands of deserving students. We are grateful that many companies have already stepped up to the challenge of supporting scholarship programs for youth. Yet, so much must and can be done by corporations, communities, and others in the private sector to help students achieve their educational dreams."

Now in its sixth year, National Scholarship Month was created by Scholarship America(SM), www.scholarshipamerica.org, formerly Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America, in 1998 to recognize the current level of scholarship support from the private sector for postsecondary education and to call for broader participation and renewed commitment from the private sector.

Several entities from nonprofit and profit sectors are lending their support to National Scholarship Month and are in the attached National Supporters list.

Scholarship America(SM) is joined by six national nonprofits that serve as Organizational Partners in bringing National Scholarship Month activities into hundreds of communities during May 2003: American Council on Education, America's Promise -- The Alliance for Youth, National Assembly and National Collaboration for Youth, National Scholarship Providers Association, The Points of Light Foundation and The Miss America Organization.

AXA, through its philanthropic arm AXA Foundation, is the National Presenting Sponsor of National Scholarship Month. The National Supporting Sponsor is USA Funds(R). Other Corporate Sponsors recognized during National Scholarship Month include: AmericInn International, LLC; Baer Gallery; Best Buy Company, Inc.; Christopher Radko, Cub Foods -- Women's Expo, Easy Spirit, eBay, KPMG Foundation, Murray Foundation, National Airlines, Operation Swatchit, Richard Petty Driving Experience, Swarovski, and United Parcel Service (UPS).

In addition to the panel discussion, several national events are being planned for May as described in the attached National Events calendar. Local communities also planning events can register their events and photos as well as participate in online forums on the website www.nationalscholarshipmonth.org

About Scholarship America(SM)

Scholarship America is the nation's largest private sector scholarship and educational support organization. It carries out its mission of expanding access to educational opportunities and encouraging academic achievement through its Dollars for Scholars(R), Scholarship Management Services(TM), and ScholarShop(R) programs. Headquartered in Minneapolis and St. Peter, MN, Scholarship America has distributed $911.5 million to more than 850,000 students through its scholarship and other support programs since its founding in 1958. For the sixth year in a row, SmartMoney, the Wall Street Journal's magazine of personal finance, has ranked Scholarship America as one of the 17 most efficient nonprofits in the country. Worth Magazine has also named Scholarship America as one of America's 100 best charities for 2001/2002. In partnership with Indianapolis-based Lumina Foundation for Education, Scholarship America founded and raised more than $125 million for the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund(TM), which was created to provide educational assistance for postsecondary study to the financially needy dependents of the September 11th terrorist attack victims. For more information, visit www.scholarshipamerica.org.

        National Scholarship Month(SM) May 2003 National Events

Scholarship America(SM) is committed to raising awareness of the
need for scholarships for students nationally. The following National
Events have been organized to serve as cornerstones for local events
across the country. AXA, through its philanthropic arm AXA Foundation,
is the National Presenting Sponsor of National Scholarship Month(SM).
USA Funds(R) is the National Supporting Sponsor. For the most
up-to-date event information as well as grassroots events occurring in
your local community, visit www.nationalscholarshipmonth.org.

Thursday, May 1, 2003

National Scholarship Month Kickoff Reception

    --  5:30-7:30 p.m. Holman Lounge, National Press Club, 529 14th
        Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
    --  Sponsored by National Scholarship Providers Association
        (NSPA), an organizational partner of National Scholarship
        Month.

Keynote Speakers: The Honorable Robert J. Dole, former U.S. Senate
Majority Leader, (confirmed) and The Honorable Peter DeFazio
(D-Oregon), U.S. Representative, (invited) as well as three
scholarship recipients.

RSVP to Rob Marqusee, Interim Director, NSPA, at 712/239-8177 or
[e-mail] by April 14.

Friday May 2, 2003

National Scholarship Month Kickoff, National Press Club, 529 14th
Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

  10:00 - 10:30am   Reception to honor National Scholarship Month
                    Organizational Partners, Endorsing Partners and
                    Corporate Sponsors as well as selected local
                    Dollars for Scholars and Scholarship Management
                    Services scholarship recipients from the greater
                    Washington, D.C. area -- Murrow, Lisagor and White
                    Rooms

  10:30 - 11:30am   Panel of National Education Leaders addressing the
                    topic: "Mobilizing Corporate Support for Students
                    through Scholarships" -- Murrow, Lisagor and White
                    Rooms

                    Moderator:
                    Carl Dalstrom, President and CEO, USA Funds(R)
                    Panelists:
                    Kathleen A. Carlson, President, AXA Foundation
                    Mim Schreck, President, Easy Spirit
                    Kathryn Bushkin, Senior Vice President, AOL Time
                    Warner, Inc., and President of the AOL Time Warner
                    Foundation

    12:30 p.m.      Newsmakers Luncheon with Miss America 2003 Erika
                    Harold -- Grand Ballroom. Simulcast on C-Span and
                    National Public Radio.
                    Price: Adult: $35 and Students: $18.

RSVP to Bob Lampe, Scholarship America, at [e-mail] or
952/830-7383 by April 14.

Sunday, May 18, 2003

Scholarship America's "In Celebration of Education" Gala
5-9:30 p.m., Marriott City Center, 30 S. 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN

    --  Help support students through scholarships by attending this
        festive evening of fantastic entertainment, a silent and live
        auction and dinner.
    --  Tony Orlando will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
    --  Musical guests include Minneapolis' own "The Sounds of
        Blackness" and the world-famous Osmond Brothers.
    --  The event will feature a "telethon" atmosphere, with
        announcements of scholarship dollars raised by Scholarship
        America's programs (Dollars for Scholars(R), Minnesota Dollars
        for Scholars(R), and Scholarship Management Services(SM)
        programs, as well as announcements on the progress of our
        ScholarShop(R) program) made throughout the evening.

For table and ticket information, please contact Terri Kirby,
Scholarship America, at [e-mail], or 507/931-0406 by May 1.

For general information about National Scholarship Month, please
visit www.nationalscholarshipmonth.org, email [e-mail] or call
Scholarship America toll-free 1-800-642-7207.


          National Scholarship Month(SM) May 2003 Supporters

Scholarship America and AXA, through its philanthropic arm AXA
Foundation, present National Scholarship Month, an innovative
partnership expanding access to education through scholarships and
advice.

NATIONAL PRESENTING SPONSOR:

AXA
AXA Achievement
Your Future. Your Way.(sm)
www.AXAonline.com/axafoundation

NATIONAL SUPPORTING SPONSOR:

USA Funds(R)
www.usafunds.org

ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS:

Scholarship America is joined by organizational partners in bringing
National Scholarship Month activities into hundreds of communities
during May 2003.

    --  American Council on Education
        www.acenet.edu
    --  America's Promise--The Alliance for Youth
        www.americaspromise.org
    --  National Assembly and the National Collaboration for Youth
        www.nassembly.org/nassembly, www.nydic.org
    --  National Scholarship Providers Association
        http://www.scholarshipproviders.org/
    --  Points of Light Foundation
        www.pointsoflight.org
    --  The Miss America Organization
        www.missamerica.org

OTHER CORPORATE SPONSORS RECOGNIZED DURING NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP MONTH:

    --  AmericInn International, LLC
    --  Baer Gallery
    --  Best Buy Company, Inc.
    --  Christopher Radko
    --  Cub Food -- Women's Expo
    --  Easy Spirit
    --  eBay
    --  KPMG Foundation
    --  Murray Foundation
    --  National Airlines
    --  Operation Swatchit
    --  Richard Petty Driving Experience
    --  Swarovski
    --  United Parcel Service (UPS)

ENDORSING PARTNERS:

Endorsing partners lend their name to support National Scholarship
Month in May 2003. (Listed below are Endorsing Partners from May 2002.
New groups will likely join the list in May 2003.)

    --  American Indian College Fund
    --  Boys & Girls Clubs of America
    --  Coca-Cola Scholars Fund
    --  College Parents of America
    --  Communities in Schools, Inc.
    --  Council for Aid to Education
    --  Girls Incorporated
    --  Hispanic Scholarship Fund
    --  The Institute for Higher Education Policy
    --  National Association for College Admissions Counseling
    --  National Association of Secondary School Principals
    --  National Association of Student Councils
    --  National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
    --  National College Access Network
    --  National Mentoring Partnership
    --  Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Network
    --  Ron Brown Scholar Program
    --  The Southern Scholarship Foundation
    --  The Washington Center for Internships & Academic Seminars
    --  U. S. Dream Academy

For more information about National Scholarship Month, please visit
www.nationalscholarshipmonth.org, email [e-mail], or call
Scholarship America toll-free at 1-800-642-7207.