11-10-02 Foundation establishes new scholarships at Fresno State

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 16, 2005 Fresno State contact:                                              The 11-10-02 Foundation contact:
Shirley Melikian Armbruster                                    Katrina Beltran shirleya@csufresno.edu                                          Media@IdeaListEnterprises.com
(559) 278-5292 or (559) 593-1815                              (312) 848-5050

Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to incorporate scholarship criteria into new course on Social Entrepreneurship.

After years of helping students in the Chicago area, The 11-10-02 Foundation has decided to branch out and is beginning with a new series of scholarships at California State University, Fresno to benefit community-minded students preparing for careers in innovation and entrepreneurship.

One student per year will be selected for the next three years. Fresno State officials will be responsible for selecting the annual recipients of the $1,000 scholarship.

In providing the funds to Fresno State, The 11-10-02 Foundation has also established a unique set of criteria by which the candidates will be considered. In addition to traditional requirements such as clear financial need and exemplary conduct, the scholarship candidates also must take part in a community service project in which they utilize innovation and entrepreneurial skills to make a difference and then write an essay about the experience.

Dr. Timothy Stearns, Coleman Foundation Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies and director of the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, indicated he will incorporate the project into a new Social Entrepreneurship course being offered at Fresno State in spring 2006. Social Entrepreneurship is defined as the practice of identifying, designing, starting and growing successful mission-driven ventures. These include “non-profit” enterprises designed to respond to a specific social need, as well as more traditional ventures working to incorporate “socially-responsible” practices into their business models.

“We are honored and pleased that the 11-10-02 Foundation has selected us as a recipient of this award. It further validates the university as a respected institution of entrepreneurial education on the national level. Our hope is that others will find Fresno State Entrepreneurship a worthy investment so more of our students can build skills in entrepreneurship. This is a critical path in our effort to attract, educate and retain young people in our region,” said Stearns.

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THE 11-10-02 FOUNDATION
The 11-10-02 Foundation seeks to break down racial, cultural and social barriers while also providing grants and scholarships to hard-working, community-minded students and the schools which they attend. In 2002, 11-10-02 was honored as America's Daily Point of Light. On two occasions, volunteers have received the Jefferson Award for Public Service. In 2005, 11-10-02's Founder, Greg Forbes Siegman, was honored at Princeton University as one of the nation's top social entrepreneurs under 40. For more information, go to www.ShakingUpChicago.com.

FRESNO STATE AND THE LYLES CENTER FOR INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

With an enrollment of more than 21,000 and a Pulitzer Prize-winning faculty, California State University, Fresno is Central California's leading University. It offers 56 undergraduate degree programs, 46 master degree programs and a joint doctorate with the University of California. The university's Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship assists both students and community members in pursuit of their entrepreneurial goals. For more information, go to www.LylesCenter.com.

EDITORS and NEWS/PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORS: Press releases can be downloaded at www.fresnostatenews.com. University Communications also provides releases for news media companies via e-mail. To be added to the distribution list, send your e-mail address to tomu@csufresno.edu.