* Awarded to students who embody the vision and values personified by President Reagan: leadership, drive, integrity and citizenship
SIMI VALLEY, CA-November 14, 2011- The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and GE announced today the launch of the 2012 GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program. The annual program selects up to 20 recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for an additional three years -- up to $40,000 total per recipient.
"Ronald Reagan believed in educating and inspiring the future leaders of tomorrow," said John Heubusch, executive director, The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. "The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program enables us to continue this tradition and keep his spirit alive among the youth of today."
Qualified applicants will be evaluated on leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship:
* Leadership- Scholars pursue leadership roles that have a positive impact in communities and showcase the value of lifelong learning.
* Drive- Firm believers "that our best days are ahead"scholars, have the conviction, ambition, discipline and courage to make their dreams reality.
* Integrity- Rooted in values and ethics, scholars possess the unique combination of integrity, dependability and humility that defined President Reagan's leadership.
* Citizenship- Scholars are driven by a sense of civic commitment and actively engage in their communities to affect positive change.
The GE Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program launched earlier this year to provide up to 200 four-year college scholarships over the next decade to deserving students who embody the vision and values personified by President Reagan. In June 2011, the Program announced the first 22 award recipients at an event at the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA. Scholarships will be applied to student tuition, room, and board while the recipient is pursuing a bachelor's degree at an accredited U.S. college or university.
GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said, "We are proud to have Ronald Reagan as a part of our leadership tradition. His belief in innovation and technology is a great example for tomorrow's leaders. We believe that the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholars will continue President Reagan's legacy."
With a total $15 million grant, GE is the presenting sponsor of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration, a celebration for the President's 100th birthday on February 6, 2011. As part of this partnership, $5 million was committed to establish this 10-year national college scholarship program. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation is contributing $3 million to the program.
From 1954 through 1962, Ronald Reagan worked for GE as host of a weekly television series, General Electric Theater, and traveled as a GE spokesman to 139 GE plants meeting more than 250,000 employees. As part of each episode, Reagan highlighted the work of these employees by promoting GE products like automatic dishwashers and electric can openers, products that were transforming American homes with the era's emerging technologies. Reagan punctuated each spot with GE's tag line at the time: "Progress is Our Most Important Product."
Today, GE employs more than 130,000 American workers. Consistently lauded by outside sources such as BusinessWeek and FORTUNE magazines for principles considered core to President Reagan himself, GE has been ranked among the world's best companies for leaders, as one of Fast Company's most innovative, and as one of GI Jobs magazine's top military friendly employers while consistently scoring well as one of the best places to launch a career.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the legacy of Ronald Reagan and his timeless principles of individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride. The Foundation also supports a scholarship program for graduates of Ventura County, Calif., high schools. More information about both programs is available at www.reaganfoundation.org/scholarships.
Qualified candidates may apply online between November 14, 2011 and February 17, 2012. To be considered for this award, candidates must complete the secure online application, in its entirety, prior to the deadline. Applicants must be nominated by a community leader, such as a high school principal, elected official or nonprofit executive.
Recipients will be recognized at an awards ceremony in summer 2012.
For more information on application requirements and a link to the application please visit:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gereaganscholarships
Megan (Parker) Newhouse
GE Corporate
[email protected]
1-646-682-5605
1-203-414-1257