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Hispanic Scholarship Fund Announces Mazda Foundation Awards

19 March 1999

Hispanic Scholarship Fund Awards Scholarships to 13 College Students on Behalf of Mazda Foundation

  Scholarship Provides Full Tuition for Students Attending California State
        University at Fullerton and University of California at Irvine

    IRVINE, Calif., March 18 -- The Hispanic Scholarship Fund
today announced the names of 13 Mazda Foundation scholarship recipients.  The
scholarship includes full tuition and an estimated cost for books and supplies
for the 1998-1999 school year.
    Seven students were selected from University of California at Irvine to
receive $5,000 scholarships.  Six additional $2,500 scholarships were awarded
to students at California State University at Fullerton.  Student majors
include Business, Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science.
    At Mazda North American Operations' headquarters today, President and CEO,
Richard N. Beattie, also Chairman of the Mazda Foundation, hosted a reception
honoring the scholars.  "The Mazda Foundation is pleased to announce our new
program with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.  At Mazda, we see diversity as an
opportunity for growth and we hope that these scholarships provide exceptional
Latino students at Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine the opportunity to grow
and advance in each of their selected fields of study," Beattie said.  Mr.
Beattie presented students with Certificates of Recognition as symbols of
Mazda's commitment to their education.
    Ms. Sara Martinez Tucker, President of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, also
attended the reception.  "We are very proud of our partnership with the Mazda
Foundation to award scholarships to talented Latinos pursuing majors in the
math and sciences. It is through the commitment of organizations such as Mazda
that allow the Hispanic Scholarship Fund to award more than $3.5 million
annually to deserving Latinos across the United States and Puerto Rico,"
Martinez Tucker said.

    Scholarship recipients for Cal State Fullerton are:
    Edward Berber, Chino, Calif. -- Business Major
    Antonio Castro Jr., Santa Ana, Calif. -- Electrical Engineering Major
    Mike Cruz, Santa Ana, Calif. -- Mathematics Major
    Jaime Engler, Fullerton, Calif. -- Civil Engineering Major
    Angela Solorio, Santa Clara, Calif. -- Business Major
    Raquel A. Wells, Whittier, Calif. -- Civil Engineering Major

    Scholarship recipients for UC Irvine are:
    Lily E. Becaria, Norwalk, Calif. -- Civil Engineering Major
    Lizbeth Cordova, Irvine, Calif. -- Environmental Engineering Major
    Fernando Haro III, Buena Park, Calif. -- Electrical Engineering Major
    Lynher Ramirez, South El Monte, Calif. -- Chemical Engineering Major
    Martiza Rios, Mecca, Calif. -- Management Info. Systems Major
    Sergio M. Sandoval, Oxnard, Calif. -- Chemical Engineering Major
    Aaron M. Soto, Huntington Beach, Calif. -- Management Info. Systems Major

    This is the first year the Mazda Foundation has partnered with the
Hispanic Scholarship Fund.  The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the
nation's leading Hispanic scholarship organization.  The HSF is a nationally
recognized organization dedicated to strengthening America by generating
contributions toward the educational advancement of Hispanics.  Since its
founding in 1975, HSF has awarded more than 36,000 scholarships totaling over
$38 million.
    The Mazda Foundation (USA) was established in 1990 to demonstrate Mazda's
commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities in which they
do business.  In addition to education, the Mazda Foundation supports
charitable organizations that promote literacy, environmental conservation,
social welfare and cross-cultural understanding.