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$1 Million in Broad Prize Scholarships Awarded to 128 High School Seniors to Attend College

Posted on: Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 09:01 CDT

The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation announced today it has awarded $1 million in college scholarships to 128 graduating high school seniors whose school districts were recognized last year as the most improved urban school districts in the country.

The scholarships were awarded to students who attend school districts that were finalists for and the winner of the 2007 Broad Prize for Urban Education, the largest education prize in the country. The Broad Prize is given each year to urban school districts that demonstrate the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement in the nation while reducing achievement gaps among ethnic groups and between high- and low- income students.

The winner of the 2007 Broad Prize was the New York City Department of Education, which received $500,000 in scholarships. The finalist districts that each received $125,000 in scholarships were Bridgeport Public Schools in Connecticut, the Long Beach Unified School District in California, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and the Northside Independent School District in Texas.

"We are proud to support these Broad Prize scholars in their pursuit of college," said Eli Broad, founder of The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, a national education philanthropy based in Los Angeles that sponsors the scholarships. "What is remarkable about these students is that they have demonstrated improvement over the course of high school, and we look forward to their success continuing in college."

Unlike most traditional scholarships that are awarded only to top-tier students, Broad Prize scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors who have a demonstrated record of improving their grades over the course of their high school career and have financial need.

Seniors were eligible for two- or four-year scholarships depending on the type of institution they choose to attend. Scholarship recipients who enroll in four-year institutions receive $10,000 paid out over four years ($2,500 per year). Students who enroll in two-year institutions receive $2,500 scholarships paid out over two years ($1,250 per year). The scholarship selection and disbursement process is managed by Scholarship and Recognition Programs, a unit of Educational Testing Service.

Each year, 100 of the largest urban school districts nationwide are eligible for The Broad Prize. Districts cannot apply for this award. To win The Broad Prize, a district must demonstrate academic performance and improvement, a reduction in income and ethnic achievement gaps and systemic district policies and practices leading to gains.

The winner of the 2008 Broad Prize will be announced on Oct. 14 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. This year's finalists are: Aldine Independent School District, Texas; Broward County Public Schools, Fla.; Brownsville Public Schools, Texas; Long Beach Unified School District, Calif.; and Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

For a full list of this year's scholarship recipients by school district, please visit www.broadfoundation.org/med-news/index.shtml.

Since The Broad Prize was first awarded in 2002, more than 730 students have received college scholarships. For more information about The Broad Prize, please visit www.broadprize.org.

The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation is a national venture philanthropy established by entrepreneur and philanthropist Eli Broad to advance entrepreneurship for the public good in education, science and the arts. The Broad Foundation's education work is focused on dramatically improving urban K-12 public education through better governance, management, labor relations and competition. The Broad Foundation's Internet address is www.broadfoundation.org.

Source: Business Wire

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