American Indian College Fund Receives $85,000 Grant from Nissan North America, Inc.

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Sep 08, 2011, 07:00 ET

DENVER, Sept. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In support of American Indian higher education, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) granted $85,000 to the American Indian College Fund to continue the Nissan Corporate Scholars Program. The program has provided scholarships to Native scholars attending tribal colleges and mainstream universities for more than a decade.

The renewed grant will support 10 tribal scholarships of $3,000 each per year and five mainstream scholarships of $5,000 each per year. Students must be enrolled in college full-time, have a 2.5 cumulative grade point average, and demonstrate leadership and commitment to the Native community to be eligible. Preference is given to renewing Nissan scholars.

Nissan is also a $20,000 sponsor of the Fund's annual Flame of Hope Fundraising Gala on October 20, 2011. The event raises both awareness and funds to help students in Indian Country achieve their educational and career goals.

"The Nissan Foundation aims to build community through valuing cultural diversity," said Scott Becker, Chairman of the Nissan Foundation. "By encouraging Native American students to continue their education, our hope is that they, in turn, will strengthen and bring greater value to their communities."

"Nissan's continued support is helping Native American students realize their dreams of graduating from college," said Richard B. Williams, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund. "We are thrilled that they continue to recognize the importance of education in combating poverty and creating better communities in Indian Country."

About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010 and has been recognized as a 2010 and 2011 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More information about Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.Infiniti.com.

About the American Indian College Fund
With its credo "Educating the Mind and Spirit," the American Indian College Fund is the nation's largest private provider of scholarships for American Indian students, providing an average of 6,000 scholarships annually for students seeking to better their lives and communities through education and support to the nation's 33 accredited tribal colleges and universities. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org.

SOURCE American Indian College Fund