Michigan Retailers Association announces scholarship program for 2005-06

For Immediate Release
February 7, 2005

LANSING — The Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) has launched its college scholarship competition for the 2005-06 academic year. MRA will award 26 scholarships —four more than last year—to members and their employees and children.

"The scholarship program is one more way MRA adds value to membership by helping make a college degree more affordable for MRA members and their employees and families," said MRA Chairman and CEO Larry Meyer. "The program has grown rapidly in the past few years, thanks to generous contributions from our members."

To be eligible, the student applicant or the student’s parent or guardian must be employed at a business that is a member of MRA. The Association has more than 5,800 retail business members that operate more than 13,000 stores across the state.

High school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores and juniors may apply for the scholarships. Students who will attend public or private colleges or universities will receive $1,000; those who will attend community colleges will receive $500. Awards are not based on financial need.

Michigan Retailers Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization established by MRA, funds the scholarships. The expanded program is made possible by the Foundation’s "Links to a Legacy" fundraising campaign to raise assets to $1 million by July 2005.

The competition is managed by Scholarship Program Administrators of Nashville, Tennessee.

Employees at MRA-member businesses may contact their employer for an application request form or call Scholarship Program Administrators at 615.320.3149. Applicants may also request an application online through MRA’s website at www.retailers.com (the access code is MIRA).

Applications must be requested by March 15 and submitted by April 1.

The Michigan Retailers Association is the unified voice of retailing in Michigan and the nation’s largest state trade association of general merchandise retailers. MRA’s nearly 6,000 retail business members operate more than 13,000 stores across the state.