EducationQuest Awards $1.1 Million in Scholarship Funds to Nebraska Colleges

(LINCOLN Neb. September 5, 2008) – EducationQuest Foundation has awarded $1.1 million in need-based scholarship funds to 32 Nebraska public and not-for-profit colleges for distribution to eligible students during the 2008-09 academic year. The funds are designated for undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. Each college selects the Nebraska students who will benefit from the scholarship.

This marks the tenth year that EducationQuest has awarded need-based scholarship funds to Nebraska colleges. Since the program began in 1998, EducationQuest has awarded a total of $8.6 million benefiting nearly 8,300 students.

EducationQuest developed the scholarship program – and has continually increased the annual distribution amount – as part of its mission to improve access to higher education in Nebraska.

"We developed this program to help offset the shortage of state-funded financial aid for low-income students in Nebraska," said EducationQuest President Liz Fieselman. "$1.1 million will go a long way toward helping hundreds of students realize their educational dreams."

According to the 2008 National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs Survey, Nebraska ranked 41st in the nation in estimated grant dollars per fulltime undergraduate enrollment for the 2006-07 academic year.

Colleges receiving funds include Bellevue University, BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, Central Community College, Chadron State College, Clarkson College, College of Saint Mary, Concordia University, Creighton University, Dana College, Doane College, Grace University, Hastings College, Little Priest Tribal College, Mid-Plains Community College, Metropolitan Community College, Midland Lutheran College, Nebraska Christian College, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Nebraska Indian Community College, Nebraska Methodist College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Northeast Community College, Peru State College, Southeast Community College, Union College, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Wayne State College, Western Nebraska Community College, and York College.

EducationQuest Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization with a mission to improve access to higher education in Nebraska. Headquartered in Lincoln, EducationQuest provides free college planning services; funds need-based scholarship programs; provides grants that help high schools increase their college-going rate; and provides outreach services for community agencies statewide. For more information, call 800.303.3745 or visit www.EducationQuest.org.