$3 Million SBC Grant Will Fund Major College Transfer Scholorship Program
More than 120 Scholars Enrolled by Fall 2005
Major Step in OSU's $50-Million Student Scholarship Drive

Date: May 12, 2005
Contact: Gary Shutt

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma State University announced today that the SBC Foundation has given OSU $3 million to fund one of the largest college student transfer scholarship programs in Oklahoma and to support academic enhancement initiatives at OSU.

"This dynamic partnership with SBC is going to have a profound and lasting impact on the educational development of our citizens and on the future economic development of our state," OSU System CEO and President David J. Schmidly said in announcing the SBC/OSU Presidential Transfer Scholarship.

Schmidly said OSU expects to have more than 120 SBC/OSU Presidential Transfer Scholars enrolled this fall.

SBC Oklahoma President Don Cain presented Schmidly with the grant, saying that OSU and SBC "create a natural synergy that addresses head-on our state's need to increase the number of residents with four-year college degrees to a level at or above the national average."

"A better educated population means a stronger and more competitive Oklahoma," Cain said. "Citizens with a bachelor's degree or better will earn more over their lifetimes, be more productive citizens and contribute to a growing and prosperous economy."

Schmidly said the grant is a major step forward in his President's Opportunity Scholarship Trust campaign, which is raising $50 million for student scholarships. Schmidly announced the campaign shortly after his arrival at OSU in January 2003. With the SBC grant, the OSU Foundation has received, on behalf of OSU, $37.4 million in scholarship gifts, pledges, and deferred gifts. Of that total, $11.1 million is endowed.

"In an era of rising educational costs, I think it is imperative that we do everything we can to help students with their educational expenses," Schmidly said. "As Oklahoma's land-grant university, we have an historical mission and a duty to continue providing opportunities and access to higher education at the comprehensive university level. SBC's forward thinking and willingness to partner for such a noble cause will pay substantial dividends to Oklahoma students and the state for years to come."

Beginning in Fall 2005, scholarships ranging from up to $3,000 ($1,500 per year for two years) to $4,000 ($2,000 per year for two years) will help outstanding students who want to transfer to OSU.

In addition to the SBC Foundation grant, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are giving serious consideration to acquiring Internet portal services that will, among other things, link community colleges to four-year institutions in Oklahoma, allowing for a more seamless and convenient transfer process for prospective students.

At the news conference, Dr. Paul Risser, Chancellor for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, said the SBC grant and additional interaction between Oklahoma's community colleges and comprehensive universities will make it easier for students to transfer between institutions.

"Certainly, this generous grant from the SBC Foundation will provide a big boost to outstanding students who want to continue their education but cannot afford to do so," Risser said. "The SBC/OSU Presidential Transfer Scholarship program will help Oklahoma remain competitive in attracting industry and jobs."

Senate President Pro Tempore President Mike Morgan said the SBC Foundation grant is an important investment in education that demonstrates strong public and industry support for student scholarships and improving access to higher education.

"The SBC Foundation grant comes on the heels of several positive developments for higher education here at the capitol," Morgan said. "The $500-million higher education bond issue, our initiative for a $1-billion research endowment and additional appropriations for higher education this year demonstrate loudly that Oklahoma cares about providing educational opportunities and resources for its citizens."

Representative Terry Ingmire, chair of the House Higher Education Committee, also spoke at the news conference, saying that education is receiving bipartisan support because of its importance to Oklahoma. He said the SBC Foundation grant is an outstanding example of how universities and the private sector can form partnerships that benefit all sides.

"SBC is to be commended for this leadership grant," Ingmire said. "Our citizens, our industries and our educational institutions have a common interest in advancing the state and improving the quality of life for its citizens. This grant will inspire other corporations and companies to come forward and show their support."

Two SBC/OSU Presidential Transfer Scholars from Oklahoma City were at today's news conference.

• Annie Crockett of Oklahoma City is transferring to OSU-Stillwater from OSU-Oklahoma City and plans to earn a degree in horticulture.
• Amy Lynn Creekmore, another Oklahoma City resident, is transferring to OSU after attending the University of Central Oklahoma for a year. She plans to earn her electrical engineering degree at OSU.

The SBC Foundation is the charitable giving arm of SBC Communications Inc. The SBC Foundation supports efforts that enrich and strengthen diverse communities nationwide, particularly those with an emphasis on education and technology and those that benefit underserved populations. SBC Foundation-backed programs are designed to increase access to information technologies, broaden technology training and professional skills development, and effectively integrate new technologies to enhance education and economic development. The Foundation Center has consistently ranked the SBC Foundation among the nation's top fifteen corporate foundations. In 2002, the SBC Foundation launched SBC Excelerator, a multimillion dollar competitive grants program that funds nonprofit organizations in their efforts to digitally connect communities.

SBC Communications Inc. is a Fortune 50 company whose subsidiaries, operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data, networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which serves 50.4 million wireless customers. SBC companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation's leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.