For Immediate Release

December 8, 2004

Contact:              Susan Miller 
                            317-816-9760 
                            smiller@hickmanassociates.com

Networks Financial Institute Funds Two Scholarships for Center for Leadership Development Graduates

(December 8, 2004, Indianapolis, IN)  — Networks Financial Institute, an outreach of Indiana State University’s College of Business, has announced that it will fund two scholarships for graduates of the Center for Leadership Development’s (CLD) College Prep Institute.  Each of the four-year, $20,000 scholarships supports the cost of tuition and fees as well as a tailored curriculum focused on the needs of the financial services industry.
 
Each scholarship recipient also will receive a $3,000 professional development account, laptop computer, paid internship within the financial services industry, an opportunity for an international experience, Indiana State University faculty mentor during freshman and sophomore years, corporate mentor during their junior and senior years and professional development opportunities.  Beyond the scholarship award, selected CLD students will have the opportunity to attend a two-week Summer Honors program at Indiana State University and an internship program at Networks Financial Institute for summer 2005.
 
Students who have graduated from CLD’s College Prep Institute and intend to pursue a career in the financial services industry are encouraged to apply.   Candidates for the scholarships must meet the following criteria:  be admitted to Indiana State University and major or minor in one of the College of Business academic programs; have a high school cumulative 3.0 or higher GPA, rank in the top one-third of their high school graduating class, achieve an SAT of at least 1000 (or equivalent ACT), demonstrate leadership potential and be recommended by CLD.

Dennis Bland, president of CLD stated, “The Networks Financial Institute has created an exceptional educational opportunity for College Prep Institute participants-and for the participants’ families. These scholarships will help advance CLD’s mission of preparing Central Indiana minority youth for the highest levels of achievement in college and career.”

Liz Georgakopoulos, executive director of Networks Financial Institute stated, “We are pleased to award these scholarships to students who have demonstrated an aptitude for the skills, knowledge and leadership required of tomorrow’s financial services leaders.  As with most successful careers, the path to opportunity begins with education.”

The Center for Leadership Development is focused on fostering the development of minority youth in Central Indiana as future professional, business and community leaders by providing experiences that encourage personal development and educational attainment.

Networks Financial Institute was founded in 2003 with a grant from the Lilly Endowment.  The not-for-profit organization serves as an outreach program of Indiana State University and focuses efforts on improving financial literacy, advancing important financial issues impacting Indiana through research, education and collaboration.  Networks Financial Institute is headquartered in Indianapolis with offices on the campus of Indiana State University and outreach in Washington, D.C., and internationally.  For more information about Networks Financial Institute, visit www.networksfinancialinstitute.org.