Anonymous donor kicks off scholarship drive

The donor is offering AIC the money needed to cover 10 full-tuition scholarships as long as the campus can generate enough funding to cover the 20 additional scholarships.

Celestino Fernendez, executive vice president for AIC, said the donors, who will provide the funding to match the 20 additional scholarships, will likely be members of the community, private businesses and organizations interested in the campus' mission.

"Individuals and organizations interested in the type of education AIC has to offer and the programs we deliver will likely be the other donors," Fern ndez said. "There are many (individuals and organizations) out there."

Mike Celaya, AIC director of enrollment and student services, said the eligibility requirements for the scholarships will be determined by the school's officials. The approval of the requirements will come from the donor.

He said there is also a possibility the donor could allocate funding for 20 full-tuition scholarships should AIC generate the funding for 80 additional scholarships.

Fernendez said the scholarships should be available to students enrolling in AIC for the fall 1997 semester. He said the only stipulations set on the scholarships are that half must go to males and half to females. In addition, half of the scholarships must be given to classified minorities.

"It's likely the scholarships will be based on need as well," Fernendez said.

He said he and his wife are donating funds equal to one full-tuition scholarship with the hope that others will follow in their footsteps.

"We wanted to be the first to meet the challenge of donating to the scholarship fund," Fernendez said.

Tuition at AIC is $2,010 per year for in-state students and $8,378 per year for out-of-state students.

Celaya said the scholarships will likely cover in-state tuition only.