Submitted by: Frank Luna, Director of Alumni Development & Scholarships

(PHOENIX, Ariz., Jan. 10, 2005) - Phoenix College (PC) alumnus Jay Faulkner established the Jay L. Faulkner Scholarship Endowment in November 2004 to benefit students participating in the PC ACE Program (Achieving a College Education).

PC ACE targets inner city youth that are at-risk of not completing high school and moving on to college. Students enter ACE in their junior year of high school by attending a number of weekend and summer classes at Phoenix College. The schedule is rigorous, as it is above and beyond their regular daily schedule of high school classes. By the end of their senior year, students not only graduate high school, but because of their participation in ACE, they have accumulated between 18 and 24 college credits and in essence have a jump start on their college degree. After graduating from high school, students move on to college as full time students.

The ACE Program serves over 100 high school students each year. The program celebrated its first graduating class in May 2004 with more than 40 students. Jay's gift marks the first endowed scholarship directed to PC ACE. He hopes that his support inspires others to step forward to meet the growing needs of the program.

For more information or to become involved in ACE please call (602) 285-7667.

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