The NASE to award $100,000 in 1997 college scholarships

John Fry of Phoenix, Ariz., knows the value of a dollar, especially when it goes to finance his college education. The economics major used his 1996 NASE scholarship to help pay for his senior year at Arizona State University.

"I think it's wonderful that the NASE is doing so much to allow young people such as myself to succeed in education and prepare for the future," Fry told the NASE. "I'll work hard this year to justify your investment in my education."

Since 1989, when the NASE first awarded scholarships, that investment has grown to $455,000 and has provided financial assistance to 331 students. This year, the NASE is proud to announce that each of the 22 scholarships to be awarded will increase from $3,000 to $4,000. And for the third consecutive year, one scholarship applicant will be chosen as the NASE's Future Entrepreneur of the Year. That honor is accompanied by a $12,000 scholarship.

Ethan Pagliaro of Cincinnati was the first student to receive the FEY Scholarship in 1995. "It was like winning the lottery," Pagliaro said when he accepted his award. "Here I was feeling like I wouldn't be able to make it back to school because money was so tight. And all of a sudden, the NASE says, 'You're going!'"

Pagliaro and 1996 FEY winner Jeff Davis illuminate a trend among today's youth -- an increasing number look forward to becoming self-employed business professionals.

• 38 percent of college students think owning a business is the best path to a successful career (Roper, 1996);
• 70 percent of high school students want to join the ranks of self-employed business owners (Gallup, 1994);
• 50 percent of young people believe business ownership is an avenue to economic security (Youth Voices, 1996).

The NASE Scholarship Program provides resources to help these fledgling entrepreneurs get the educational backgrounds they'll need for successful futures and is made possible by the joint efforts of the NASE and the NASE Foundation. Funding is provided to the Foundation by donations from concerned business owners and Members who believe in the basic premise of the NASE, and who share the desire to take a role in developing tomorrow's leaders. Donations are welcome and tax deductible. You may send contributions to the NASE Foundation, Scholarship Division, PO Box 637, Hurst, Texas 76054.

Eligibility requirements, selection criteria and application deadlines are described in the following Scholarship section.

Read the sideabar story: NASE Scholarship eligibility rules

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