Subaru of America, Inc. to Provide $75,000 for Students with Financial Need

Gift to Support Current Use and Endowed Scholarships at Montgomery College

NJ - October 14, 2009: Subaru of America, Inc., renewed its commitment to Montgomery College by pledging an additional $75,000 over the next five years for student scholarship support. Montgomery College’s Automotive Technology Program and Subaru have had a successful partnership for more than 15 years, producing hundreds of highly-trained automotive technicians. Subaru has also been a generous donor establishing the Subaru of America Endowed Scholarship for automotive technology students in 1993. This scholarship will support five students this year.

A portion of the new Subaru commitment will sustain the endowed scholarship fund to ensure support for future generations of automotive technology students. The remaining $37,500 will be used to create the Subaru of America Scholarship Fund for current students regardless of their area of study. Eligible students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and demonstrate financial need. Subaru of America Scholarships will be available beginning in the 2010 academic year.

"We are pleased to continue our efforts in helping to support educational initiatives," said Tom Doll, executive vice president, COO and CFO, Subaru of America, Inc. "To enable a student to further advance his or her academic career is a great honor."

Subaru expanded scholarship support to include students outside the Automotive Technology Program in recognition of Montgomery College’s increasing enrollment of students with significant financial need. For the fall 2009 semester, the College’s enrollment has increased seven percent compared to last fall, and financial aid applications increased 20 percent over last year.

“We are grateful for the partnership with Subaru of America, which benefits both our students and our program,�?? says Debra Anderson, director of Montgomery College’s Automotive Technology Program, “Subaru understands the important role community colleges play in higher education and workforce development, particularly in this economic climate.�??

Montgomery College’s Automotive Technology Program is part of the Homer S. Gudelsky Institute for Technical Training and prepares students for entry into the automotive repair industry. Students can earn an Associate of Applied Science or up to five certificates of completion in specialty areas. Automotive coursework also prepares students for the industry recognized “National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)�?? technician certification exams.

Montgomery College is a public, open admissions community college with campuses in Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring, plus workforce development/continuing education centers and off-site programs throughout Montgomery County, Md. The College serves nearly 60,000 students a year, through both credit and noncredit programs, in more than 100 areas of study.

For more information about the Montgomery College Automotive Technology program, visit: http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/giterv/auto/auto_home.htm.