MURRAY, Utah, March 12, 2008—Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading provider of education funding, today announced that its subsidiary, the Sallie Mae Bank, is awarding 15 $5,000 scholarships to local undergraduate students completing an engineering, nursing or teaching program.

This is the second year of the Sallie Mae Bank scholarship program. Last year, the company awarded $47,000 in scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 to 17 students for the 2007–2008 academic year.

“We are excited to help deserving students in access higher education,” said Mark Howard, president of Sallie Mae Bank. “These scholarships can make a real difference in the amount you’ll pay out of pocket to attend college, but you must take the time to apply.”

Selected recipients must provide confirmation that they have applied to and have been accepted by an approved, accredited institution located within Salt Lake county or Utah county. If the institution is an online school, the student must provide confirmation that they have applied to and have been accepted at the institution and live in Salt Lake or Utah counties.

Students who might qualify should contact their higher education institution’s financial aid or scholarship department at their school for more information and an application. The application and all required supporting documents (transcripts, student aid report, essay and recommendation letter) must be submitted by March 31, 2008. Scholarships will be applied toward tuition, fees and books for the 2008–2009 academic year.

Sallie Mae Bank, a subsidiary of Sallie Mae, funds and originates private education and federally guaranteed consolidation loans made by Sallie Mae to students and families nationwide. Opened in November 2005, the Bank is headquartered in Murray, Utah, and is insured and regulated by the FDIC. Besides scholarships, the Bank also provides grants to education-related non-profit organizations.

For more information contact:
Erica Eriksdotter (703) 984-5628