Congressman Fattah Leads Effort to Secure $25 Million in Guaranteed Graduate School Scholarships;...

PHILADELPHIA -- U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah made a surprise announcement today that all 700 students attending the 20th Annual 2006 Fattah Conference on Higher Education will receive full scholarships upon their acceptance for graduate school at any one of 16 participating Pennsylvania colleges

"This $25 million scholarship announcement will positively impact the life chances of each and every one of you here today," Congressman Fattah said in addressing the Conference. "Your successful completion of graduate school will transform our city and country."

According to State Senator Vincent Hughes -- one of the Conference's supporters and a leading member of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Board of Directors - the scholarship guarantee represents an unprecedented partnership led by the office of Congressman Fattah, the State System of Higher Education (SSHE), participating schools along with the Educational Advancement Alliance. "Philadelphia and the nation's future depend on more minority students pursuing graduate degrees - particularly in science and technology," Senator Hughes said.

The participating institutions that have guaranteed the scholarships for qualified students include Temple University, the University of the Sciences of Philadelphia (USP), as well as Bloomsburg State University, California State University, Cheyney State University, Clarion State University, East Stroudsburg State University, Edinboro State University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown State University, Lock Haven State University, Mansfield State University, Millersville State University, Shippensburg State University, Slippery Rock State University and West Chester State University -- all of which are members of the Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. "We want to thank Congressman Chaka Fattah and his leadership in addressing the need for more minority students to pursue and achieve their dream of a graduate school education," said Dr. Judy G. Hample, Chancellor, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. "We look forward to working with him in the future and be an essential resource in his education initiatives."

In addition to this Conference on Higher Education, Congressman Fattah has been the driving force behind GEAR UP the nation's largest early college awareness program and CORE Philly which was the first program in the country to provide last dollar scholarships to every senior graduating from any Philadelphia public, charter, private or parochial school.

The 700 students attending the Conference are predominantly African American and Latino currently enrolled in undergraduate programs at colleges and universities throughout Pennsylvania and other neighboring states. Over the weekend, they have attended skill building workshops and had inspirational speakers from education leaders and advocates of national stature including former Congressman and President of the UNCF William H. Gray III and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and Mayor of San Antonio, Henry Cisneros.

Founded 20 years ago by then State Representative Chaka Fattah as the Graduate Opportunities Conference, the Fattah Conference on Higher Education has as its objective to increase the enrollment of under-represented students in undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. This regional informational and scholarship conference has helped to fund and inspire more than 10,000 under-represented students to achieve a post-secondary and graduate education. Sallie Mae is the principal sponsor of the Conference and has established a $2 million endowment fund that will enable the program to be offered to students in perpetuity.

Media advisory: The Congressman and students will only be available on site for interviews on this surprise announcement after it is made at or about 12:00 pm on Saturday.