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Nelnet donates $50,000 to Hispanic Scholarship Fund

In the fall of 2006, Nelnet 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 was 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.

 

Nelnet Sponsors Wright Flight “Fly Day”

Forty hard-working Tucson area students from middle school to high school fulfilled a dream by piloting an aircraft. The flight lesson with a certified pilot in various light aircraft was part of a reward program at the core of the Wright Flight organization. Nelnet recently sponsored the “Fly Day” at the Tucson Airport Executive Terminal. The nationally recognized Wright Flight program uses the motivating effect airplanes have on youngsters to teach the principles of goal setting and achievement to advance their educational development. The students' reward for reaching their goals is actually taking over the controls of the aircraft and flying the plane.

Before beginning the program, students signed a contract requiring that they raise a grade point in one of their weaker subjects (for example, raising a math grade from C to B). Other conditions included completing an aviation history course, in addition to staying in school, off drugs, and out of gangs. Once these requirements were met, along with passing the Wright Flight "History of Aviation" test, the child was allowed to fly with a volunteer FAA certified pilot and “graduate” at an on-site ceremony. “Nelnet’s generous funding of Wright Flight for Tucson area youth has helped change lives,” said Mark Hollinger, Vice President for Wright Flight, Inc. “Your [Nelnet’s] donation not only paid costs for the Fly Day plane expenses and insurance, but has also provided these youth with a life-changing graduation experience.”

According to Wright Flight, “Poverty, drugs, and poor socio-economic conditions affect more 60 percent of youth in the Tucson area.” These “at-risk” conditions make youth particularly vulnerable to underachievement in education and in their personal development. The majority of these kids and their parents have never flown in a commercial airplane. When they take hold of the controls of the aircraft, they are simultaneously learning to take control of their lives.

“Nelnet’s vision is to help education-seeking families reach their education and career goals,” said Nelnet Co-CEO Steve Butterfield. “The Wright Flight youth pilots are setting and accomplishing their educational goals, which can lead to a lifelong appreciation for learning. We are proud to support this program.”

To date, Wright Flight has helped make these life-changing flights possible to the delight of more than 10,500 kids in Tucson. For more information, visit www.wrightflight.org.

 

 
     

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