Buena Vista University Student Austin Baker Selected as UPS Scholar

STORM LAKE, IA (08/15/2011)(readMedia)-- Buena Vista University junior, Austin Baker from Blue Grass, has been selected as a UPS Scholar and recipient of a scholarship through the Iowa College Foundation, an organization which raises funds for its 23 member independent colleges in Iowa.

The Iowa College Foundation, a Foundation of Independent Higher Education (FIHE) affiliated state association, distributed $62,100 in UPA Scholarship funds to its 23 member colleges in Iowa fro the 2011-2012 academic year.  FIHE awared more tne $1.5 million in scholarships from its UPS Educational Endowment Fund to private institutions of higher learning across the nation.  These scholarships are awarded annually to students selected as UPS Scholars.

The UPS Educational Foundation Endowment Fund, which is held and administered by FIHE, was initiated through endowment gifts from the UPS Foundation totaling $4 million and is now valued at $35 million.  Since its inception, this fund has awarded over $46 million in scholarship support to over 15,000 students nationwide.

In announcing this year's scholarships, Ken Sternad, president of The UPS Foundation, said, "A college degree opens the doors to countless opportunities.  UPS takes great pride in our long-standing partnership with FIHE and in our support of thousands of students over the years who have been able to pursue an education from our nation's private colleges."

Baker is majoring in psychology and criminology and criminal justice at BVU.