Howard University National Society of Black Engineers and Microsoft Launch 2005 Windows Media Player Skins Challenge

(Nasdaq: MSFT) have
partnered to launch the fourth annual Howard University Windows Media(R)
Player Skins Challenge, a college-level competition to create original user
interfaces for the Windows Media Player. Engineering students can use their programming skills to
produce exciting functionality and new interactivity modes. "From engineers to artists, the
innovators of today are the history -makers of tomorrow. Students do not have to be present
for their skin to be selected.

About Howard University
Howard University is one of 48 U.

NOTE: Microsoft and Windows Media are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
The scholarship fund was established by Dr.0 grade point average. It is the only
professional organization that represents CPAs in Illinois. Recipients Include Students from Chandler, Douglas,
Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix and Tucson

GILBERT, Ariz.
The awards are part of Southwest's commitment to providing students with
scholarships to help offset the cost of attending college, and to reward
students for their outstanding academic and community performance .
"Each year, we give scholarships to several deserving Arizona students, as
well as a cash award to recognize a distinguished Arizona high school
counselor," said Rich Nickel, president, Southwest Student Services
Corporation.
* Darla Cocio, a resident of Tucson and a senior at the University of
Arizona studying secondary education.

Southwest also funds a number of additional annual scholarships for
students in partnership with Arizona's public universities and high schools .

About Southwest Student Services Corporation
Southwest Student Services Corporation serves schools and borrowers at
every education level that seek financial aid counseling, student loan
funding, loan origination, loan consolidation, and life-of-the-loan servicing.
Southwest is known nationally for providing innovative, money-saving
benefits and exceeding customer expectations . SLM Corporation and its
subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America .

life society

We are
pleased that our association with Howard University and NSBE has enabled this
unique and pioneering program.
Judges from academia, industry and the media will select skins based on
their representation of a theme from culture, entertainment or education in a
manner consistently reinforced by appearance, audio effects and operation.
The scholarship program, which is funded by the CPA Endowment Fund of
Illinois and Chicago State University, is designed to help CSU students
overcome financial hurdles on the road to earning their Certified Public
Accountant (CPA) credential. Up to five scholarships of up to $2,500 each will
be awarded in the 2005-06 school year to qualified juniors and seniors to help
cover tuition expenses and fees. "Obtaining the CPA
credential is a wonderful way for students to ensure career success, and we
want to do everything we can to help Chicago State University students get
there."
"As the founding dean of Chicago State University's Business School, I
share my wife's passion for providing opportunity to students who are in need
and working towards their goal of becoming a CPA," stated Needles.
-- Have a minimum 3. Over the
last decade, Arizona residents have received nearly $200,000 in scholarships
from Southwest. Her hard work and dedication, demonstrated through
innovation, leadership and mentoring skills, helped students realize their
full career and education potential.

The Anne Lindeman Memorial Scholarship -- Three, $1,000 scholarships were
awarded to undergraduate seniors pursuing a course of study in education,
social sciences or health sciences.

homepages arizona

(Logo: http://www. "We're pleased
to have Microsoft sponsor the challenge for the third consecutive year and
welcome NSBE student participation . Skins offer users
a personal interface for interacting with digital media such as CDs, DVDs,
MP3s , and streaming audio and video.
"The Howard University Skins Challenge offers NSBE the perfect outlet for
advancing its goals of enticing more African-American students to enter the
field of engineering and encouraging them to use their creative talents to
advance the cause of innovation and scientific exploration," said Michele
Lezama, executive director of the NSBE."
Students do not have to be NSBE members to enter the competition, and they
may major in any subject. The
five best skins will be selected and announced March 25, during the 31st
annual NSBE National Convention in Boston. More information can be
found at http://www. Founded 30 years ago, the
organization boasts more than 10,000 members with more than 270 chapters on
college and university campuses, 75 alumni extension chapters nationwide, and
75 pre-college chapters. Marian Powers and her husband ,
Dr., CPA who are dedicated to helping CSU students obtain
an accounting education.25/4. Southwest is committed to helping families and students throughout
Arizona and across the nation by providing education resources and financing
that help make going to college a reality.

college attending

The five best skins will compete for the
overall championship, with the winner to be announced at an awards ceremony in
April.
Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, a Truman Scholar,
six Fulbright Scholars and nine Pickering Fellows.

Illinois CPA Society Announces the Marian Powers Accounting Scholarship Fund for Students at Chicago State University

Needles, the first dean of CSU College of Business and current Ernst + Young
Distinguished Professor of Accounting at DePaul University , are
internationally renowned for their commitment to the accounting profession and
accounting education.
"I attribute where I am today to the financial support and guidance I
received as an undergraduate student at Chicago State University, and I can't
think of a better way to give back," explained Powers. Members of the Illinois CPA Society established and have contributed to
this Fund to ensure a strong future for the CPA profession.

* Ashley Calderon, of Alhambra High School and a resident of Phoenix,
plans to attend Glendale Community College.
* Lauren Nicole Hopper, of Hamilton High School and a resident of
Chandler, plans to attend Chandler -Gilbert Community College.
Lindeman also served as a Southwest board member.

college arizona

This year the challenge is open for
the first time to all registered students attending universities and colleges
with a National Society of Black Engineers chapter., associate professor of Systems and Computer Science at Howard
University and executive producer of the 2005 Skins Challenge. For more information , please visit
http://www.
-- Plan to sit for the CPA Examination in Illinois, and demonstrate a
course of study which reflects this goal. "We award these scholarships to recognize the achievements of
the recipients and to help students pursue their dreams of receiving a college
education .

Community College Scholarships -- Four renewable $500 scholarships were
awarded to Arizona high school seniors with strong service and academic
backgrounds.

arizona people

"
Windows Media skins combine graphic art and technology to customize the
appearance and features of the Microsoft(R) Windows Media Player.
Emphasis will be placed on the skin's utility as a media player interface and
its innovation using Windows Media Player 10 features.D.s than any other university in the world.howard. Powers, an alumnus of Chicago State University and adjunct faculty at
the Allen Center for Executive Education at Northwestern University and Dr. Applicants
should:

-- Be enrolled full-time at Chicago State University as a junior or senior
in the 2005-06 school year. During its over
100 years of existence, the Society has advanced the highest ethical and
financial standards of the profession , and has been a leader in educating the
public on financial issues. For more
information, contact (312)993-0407.

* Amber Spears, a senior at Mountain View High School and a resident of
Tucson, received a $500 scholarship for nominating Hemingway.
* Heather Hall, a resident of Glendale and a junior at Arizona State
University-West studying special education.

college people

Award -Winning Digital Media Innovation Competition Expands Nationally

WASHINGTON, Howard University , the National
Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and Microsoft Corp.newscom.
The Skins Challenge is a great example of how academia, industry and alumni
can work in partnership to provide relevant educational experiences.howard. private, doctoral/research-extensive
universities and comprises 12 schools and colleges. Howard also produces more
African-American Ph. For more
information, visit http://www.edu .org .

Belverd Needles, Jr.
Dr.

, To celebrate the accomplishments
and dreams of students in Arizona, Southwest Student Services Corporation
(Southwest), a nationally recognized higher education lender headquartered in
Gilbert, Ariz., has awarded scholarships totaling $14,000 to eight high school
seniors and college students from across the state.
The company is among the top 30 originators of federal student loans, issuing
more than $1. SLM Corporation (NYSE: SLM) is the
nation's leading provider of education funding, managing nearly $112 billion
in student loans for 8 million borrowers.

attending students

com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
The Skins Challenge was the basis for Microsoft and Howard University
receiving the 2005 NSBE Golden Torch Corporate Education Partnership Award.
"The Skins Challenge is a tremendous opportunity for enterprising students
to demonstrate their creativity in developing culturally enlightened state-of-
the-software digital media products for a worldwide audience," said Todd
Shurn, Ph.D.S.

About the National Society of Black Engineers
The National Society of Black Engineers' mission is to increase the number
of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed
professionally and positively impact the community.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential."
Southwest is pleased to announce its 2005 scholarship and award
recipients:

Southwest's High School Counselor of the Year Award -- Hollis Hemingway, a
counselor at Mountain View High School in Tucson, received a $500 cash prize
and an award plaque after being named Southwest's 2005 Arizona High School
Counselor of the Year. These scholarships memorialize the
philosophy and accomplishments of Anne Lindeman, the former executive director
of the Governor's Council on Aging, and a former Arizona state legislator who
fought to improve education as well as the quality of life for seniors. In 23 years of service,
Southwest has helped more than 1 million people reach their educational goals.

homepages students

"
Keith Toussaint, program manager in the Windows Digital Media Division at
Microsoft and a Howard alumnus, said, "Activities fusing black history with
contemporary technology are in limited supply.nsbe. CHICAGO, Illinois CPA Society, in partnership with
Chicago State University, is pleased to announce the Marian Powers Accounting
Scholarship Fund for outstanding accounting students at Chicago State
University (CSU).
The deadline for applications is June 15 , 2005.
This Scholarship covers tuition, fees, and/or up to $500 for books and
other education -related expenses for the 2005-06 school year.

About the Illinois CPA Society
The Illinois CPA Society, founded in 1903, is the fourth largest state CPA
society in the nation, with more than 22,000 members.
* Joel Alexis Greer, of Douglas High School and a resident of Douglas,
plans to attend Pima Community College. This year's recipients
include:

* Shanon Bjerke , a resident of Tucson and a senior at the University of
Arizona studying nursing.
Southwest Student Services Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of SLM
Corporation, commonly known as Sallie Mae.

For personal homepages of students attending Arizona State.

people society

Graphic arts
students can creatively express themselves with colors, themes, and striking
2-D and 3-D images. Student teams with three or fewer members may enter
by submitting an original Windows Media Player skin by March 20, 2005 .

About the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois
The CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois was launched in 1998 to support
Illinois CPA Society programs that attract students to the CPA profession and
to assist individuals with financial needs once they have decided to become
CPAs.

Eight Arizona Students and One High School Counselor Receive Scholarships and Cash Awards from Southwest Student Services Corporation During National Scholarsh

8 billion in student loans annually, and it is the nation's ninth
largest holder of federal student loans with a portfolio of more than $5
billion.

arizona life

The award recognized the valuable contribution the challenge makes to
advancing the preparation of minority students for digital media innovation. While it is important to
commemorate our culture in traditional ways, it is necessary that we bring
those commemorations forward in innovative ways that progress with technology.edu/skinschallenge . For more than 135 years,
the University has served as the training ground for the nation's leaders in
the fields of education, law, medicine, science, the arts and journalism. in the United States and/or other countries.
Current and prospective Chicago State University students are encouraged
to apply for the Marian Powers Accounting Scholarship Fund by contacting Ken
Calvin at the Chicago State University Scholarship office at 773-995-2403.
* Dalia Escalera, of Westwood High School and a resident of Mesa, plans to
attend Mesa Community College.