Press Release

Arizona Higher Education Loan Authority (AHELA) To Award Annual Scholarships

AHELA will award $23,000 in scholarships to 15 Arizona students to be used for tuition and expenses in fall 2007.

TEMPE, AZ – The Arizona Higher Education Loan Authority (AHELA), a non-profit student loan provider, will host the AHELA Annual Scholarship Luncheon on August 6th, 2007 at the Fiesta Resort Conference Center at 2100 South Priest Drive in Tempe, AZ. Scholarships will be awarded to 15 Arizona students based on scholarship requirements, including academic achievement, financial need, community involvement, program of study (teachers and nurses), and, in some cases, written essays.

“AHELA is dedicated to increasing access to higher education through it’s low cost loan programs and development of scholarship & outreach programs, as well as, working with our schools and our state government to strengthen our educational system”, said AHELA Executive Director Shelly Murphy. "AHELA recognizes that the skyrocketing costs of education makes this an even more difficult task for all involved, but hopes through early awareness programs, private and public partnerships, and support of educational institutions, we can all work together to make sure that a higher education is obtainable.”

The AHELA Scholarship programs are designed to create financial assistance for students throughout the state. Students must have a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average and be enrolled full-time in an Arizona institution of higher education. AHELA wants to help bridge the gap between financial aid and the cost of a college education, as well as help the state of Arizona overcome teacher and nurse shortages. Four scholarships in the amount of $2,500 will be awarded to students through the 9/11 Memorial essay scholarship contest and two scholarships in the amount of $2,000 will be awarded to low-income or disadvantaged students. Four scholarships in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded to nursing students and four scholarships in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded to teacher or education students. An additional $ 1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a College Goal Sunday attendee who was selected at random. Students will be required to use this money to cover educational expenses, such as tuition, fees, and books.

Complete scholarship information and a list of winners are posted on the AHELA website at www.ahela.org/winners. For more details on AHELA Scholarship programs visit www.ahela.org/scholarships.