Sallie Mae Celebrates National College Scholarship Month with Expert Online Chat on Nov. 17

(BUSINESS WIRE)--High school seniors and returning college students take note: November is National Scholarship Month and the time to get serious about researching and applying for free money for college. To help, Sallie Mae today announced a free online chat with author and scholarship expert Kelly Tanabe from 9 to 10 p.m. EST on Nov. 17 via www.Facebook.com/SallieMae. Students and their parents are invited to participate in the chat and direct their live questions to Tanabe.

The average family covers 23 percent of college costs with scholarships and grants, according to Sallie Mae’s “How America Pays for College” national study, conducted by Gallup. In total, 43 percent of families received scholarships last academic year to help make the investment in higher education, up slightly from the previous year’s 40 percent. On average, scholarship winners received about $7,800.

“November is the time to kick start your scholarship search,” said Kelly Tanabe, co-author of 12 books on college admission and paying for college, the latest being The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2011. “There are more than 1 million scholarships available between November and February with a total value of $6 billion, so spending a few hours now to scope out your options, write your essay, and prepare other application materials could mean the difference between a missed opportunity and money for tuition.”

Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading saving, planning and paying for college company, makes it easy for students to research scholarships with its free online scholarship database. Available at www.SallieMae.com/Scholarships and on Facebook, the searchable tool contains information about 3 million scholarship awards worth more than $16 billion. Facebook users who are fans of the Sallie Mae Scholarship Search may access the Scholarship Search Facebook application to explore scholarships, share scholarship resources with friends, see potential scholarship matches and more.

“I have used nearly all of the scholarship websites out there and yours is the best,” said Samantha Duncan from Anaheim, Calif.

To access information on scholarships included in the Sallie Mae’s free scholarship search, students or parents complete an online profile form answering questions about academics, family background, career interests, extracurricular activities, work experience, college plans and more. Within seconds of submitting the form, which is available in both English and Spanish, families receive a customized, online list of scholarships matching their characteristics, including the award amount, eligibility criteria, deadline date and the provider’s contact information. Students and parents also can use advanced features to make the application process easier, including a printable calendar listing of potential scholarships by deadline.

Sallie Mae regularly offers scholarship tips via Twitter @SallieMae and Facebook at facebook.com/SallieMae.

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Website for Teachers Offers Expanded Research-Based Resources for In-School and Out-of-School Learning

PRNewswire- Teachers and parents will find a one-stop-shop for standards-based classroom resources at the new-and-improved ReadWriteThink.org (http://www.readwritethink.org/), the popular website developed by International Reading Association (IRA), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and Verizon Thinkfinity in 2002 to provide reading and language arts educators with access to an ever-growing collection of free educational materials.

Launched in mid-January 2010, the redesigned site features improved organization and navigation tools that make it easier to browse among hundreds of standards-based lesson plans, timely activities, recommended book lists, printable worksheets, and interactive tools so that users can quickly find the right resources to support teaching and learning.

Intuitive design is at the core of the new site which features collections by grade-level, as well as collections dedicated to learning outside of the classroom, and professional development.

Every lesson plan at ReadWriteThink.org has been aligned to individual state standards, which can be viewed easily in the new design.

Teachers can also support their students' learning beyond the classroom by referring parents and after-school care providers to the site's new after-school resources section, which features tips and how-to's, activities and projects, podcasts, and online tools.

ReadWriteThink.org owes its success to a dedicated community of literacy professionals who write and review lesson plans and other materials. Through the new Communities section, users can go behind the scenes to learn about the authors and reviewers that inspire, educate, and show how ReadWriteThink.org is making a difference.

Users can add their own comments and share their experiences and ideas, as well as e-mail and bookmark resources on the site. Other social networking opportunities are available through RWT's fan page on Facebook.

"ReadWriteThink.org has always been a deep resource," says International Reading Association President Kathy Au. "The improvements to the site make it even more meaningful by bringing users directly to the content they need and by creating a community of educators and learners. Improving literacy learning has always been our goal; the new site achieves that by helping -- and connecting -- everyone in the circle, from educators to parents to students."

NCTE president Carol Jago invites, "Hungry for fresh ideas to make learning come alive in your classroom? ReadWriteThink is a cornucopia of teaching produce that will nourish both you and your students. Created by classroom teachers who know how quickly lessons can grow stale, this virtual basket is easy to access and yours for the taking. To paraphrase the title of Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir, Eat Teach Love."

The International Reading Association is a professional membership organization dedicated to promoting high levels of literacy for all by improving the quality of reading instruction, disseminating research and information about reading, and encouraging the lifetime reading habit.

The National Council of Teachers of English has been dedicated to building teacher knowledge and improving student achievement in English language arts since its founding in 1911.

Verizon Thinkfinity is the cornerstone of Verizon Foundation's literacy, education, and technology initiatives. Their goal is to improve student achievement in traditional classroom settings and beyond by providing high-quality content and first-class professional development training.

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Sept. 11th Education Trust/Social Studies School Service Launch Free Resources to Address Call for Teaching About 9/11

/PRNewswire/ -- The following was issued today by Social Studies School Service and Sept. 11th Education Trust:

Who: The Sept. 11th Education Trust and Social Studies School Service

What: Free video-streaming Remembrance Video, Classroom Discussion Questions, and Website designed to share thoughts and questions.

Where: www.learnabout9-11.org, available August 31, 2009 - December 31, 2009

Why: The Sept. 11th Education Trust, a prominent 9/11 nonprofit organization, and Social Studies School Service, a leading provider of materials for K-12 schools, have created The Sept. 11th Education Program: A National Interdisciplinary Curriculum, the first comprehensive curriculum on the subject. They are making available for a limited time a free resource for teachers designed to spark an historical discussion about Sept. 11th. The video Remembrance features moving primary-source interviews with survivors, family members of those who perished and others who were a part of the events that transpired following the terrorist attacks. It comes with thoughtful discussion questions and may be used independently or as a starting point for teaching the entire curriculum.

"On Sept. 11, 2001 thousands of innocent civilians were attacked by terrorists on U.S. soil. Educators and parents need a resource that provides the tools to think critically about these historical events and to share information on a subject that affects us all," said Dr. Aaron Willis, Chief Education Officer for Social Studies School Service. "This Remembrance Video is a great way to start teaching The Sept. 11th Education Program curriculum, or it can be used independently to build understanding of this critical part of American history."

"Our driving force in creating this curriculum is to ensure that our future generations never forget the sacrifice thousands of individuals made at the hands of terrorists. By making this primary source video and the discussion questions available free of charge, we are helping students learn to think critically and civically," Anthony Gardner Founder and Director of The Sept. 11th Education Trust and brother of 9/11 victim, Harvey Joseph Gardner III.

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Sallie Mae Announces New Resources for Students and Families Concerned About Paying for College in Difficult Economy

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading provider of saving- and paying–for-college programs, today announced several initiatives to help parents and students concerned about paying for college in the current economic climate.

In recent months, worries among families about affording college have grown as the economy has declined. Market turbulence has taken a toll on college savings and other personal investments, many parents are facing real or possible job loss, and budget pressure has reduced merit- and need-based college financial aid in many states. As a result, families may find themselves exploring college financial aid options that they previously had not considered or expected to need.

In response, Sallie Mae offers the following assistance:

* An extended commitment to make federal student loans to every eligible student at every school in the United States through the 2009-2010 academic year.
* A new Sallie Mae Web site, www.SallieMae.com/resources available to all parents and students – not just Sallie Mae customers – concerned about learning more about resources available to pay for tuition. Information about free resources, such as grants and scholarships, is available to help families minimize out-of-pocket expenditures and to find the right options to help ensure students stay in school. The site also includes information about payment plans available at colleges and universities to help families avoid the need for loans by making interest-free tuition payments in monthly installments. In addition, visitors can find details about various federal student loan options, including federal parent loans, that are available regardless of income, assets or collateral. Visitors to the site will be able to submit their questions to Sallie Mae for research and response.
* A tuition assistance night with toll-free hotline, 1-877-881-1012, accessible on Feb. 25 from 6 p.m. to midnight EST, to assist students and families concerned about covering the tuition bill this coming fall.
* Complimentary college planning assistance webinars for parents on Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. EST and Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. EST. These 45-minute sessions will educate parents on free Web tools available to find scholarships, calculate and compare college costs, build a plan to pay for college and estimate student loan payments. Parents are welcome to register by sending an email to SchoolResource@SallieMae.com. In addition, a College Planning Assistance webinar replay will be available on www.SallieMae.com/resources beginning Feb. 26.

“Too many families are picking up the pieces from depleted home values, retirement plans and college savings accounts only to realize that they still need a solution to pay for their child’s education,” said Albert L. Lord, chief executive officer. “We are closely monitoring our customers’ needs and actively looking at additional steps we can take to help both students in school and graduates in repayment.”

Today's moves come on the heels of several recent company initiatives offered at no cost to students and families, including:

* Education Investment Planner (www.SallieMae.com/plan), a free, comprehensive online tool that enables families to estimate the total cost of a college degree and build a customized plan to pay for it;
* Be Debt Savvy (www.SallieMae.com/bedebtsavvy), free educational tools that help students establish and maintain good credit;
* Upromise and Upromise Loan Link (www.upromise.com and www.SallieMae.com/Upromise). Upromise is a free program that helps students and families save money for education expenses. Upromise members can earn cash rewards when making purchases from hundreds of participating companies, accumulating savings for college or other purposes. Members who sign up for Upromise Loan Link may have their savings automatically transferred to help pay down eligible Sallie Mae-serviced student loans.
* Sallie Mae’s Scholarship Search (www.SallieMae.com/scholarship), a free, on-line database, updated daily, containing nearly 3 million scholarship awards worth more than $16 billion.

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New Scholarship Launches Careers of Patent Law Thought Leaders

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Patent Resources Group, the nation’s leading patent education firm, announces the introduction of a new scholarship that will launch the careers of the next generation of elite patent professionals.

The Future Leaders Scholarship, open to all full-time law students who are eligible to sit for the Patent Bar examination, will award full tuition to Patent Resources Group’s Patent Bar Review course, including travel and hotel costs, a value of more than $5,000.

Applications are currently being accepted and must be postmarked no later than February 27, 2009. Winners will receive notification by March 20, 2009.

Once scholarship winners pass the Patent Bar exam, they will also be reimbursed for the patent agent fee charged by the U.S. Patent and Trade Office to become a patent agent. Scholarship winners will be chosen based on proven academic achievement.

“In today’s world of fast-paced technological innovation, patents are crucial in translating new inventions into profitable business enterprises,” says Patent Resources Group’s Academic Director Paul Gardner. “PRG's Future Leaders scholarship will provide the recipients with the invaluable instruction of the nation’s premier course for preparing aspiring patent professionals, propelling them into highly satisfying and rewarding careers in patent law.”

More information and a downloadable application are available at www.patentresources.com/scholarship.

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