Nine Public Historically Black Colleges and Universities to Receive New
                     Software in First Round Grant Awards

    NEW YORK, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
(TMSF) today announced that it has completed the selection of nine of its
45 member colleges and universities that will receive new Microsoft software
for technology upgrades, as part of a $15 million software grant from
Microsoft Corporation.
    TMSF's nine member public historically black colleges and universities
(HBCUs) are scheduled to receive the software in September. The schools will
be awarded a combined total of $2.4 million in Microsoft software in the first
round of schools selected in a competitive process by the Thurgood Marshall
Technology Initiative Advisory Committee. The schools' will use the software
gift to upgrade institutional computers used by students, faculty and
administrative staffs in libraries, student learning labs and faculty offices.
The upgrades are expected to strengthen teaching methods and transform
students' educational experience and workplace preparedness.
    Schools receiving new software will implement technology solutions to help
them be more competitive; address key long-term technology needs and
opportunities; and benefit students, faculty and administrative staffs.
Commenting on the award, U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Chair of the
Congressional Black Caucus stated that, "The CBC applauds the commitment
Microsoft has shown to HBCUs. This partnership illustrates the positive
benefits when the public sector and private sector come together."
    The first round of public HBCUs selected to receive the software are
Southern University at New Orleans; Fayetteville State University;
Harris-Stowe College; Lincoln University of Pennsylvania; Tennessee State
University; Medgar Evers College; Jackson State University; Chicago State
University; and Prairie View A & M University.
    "Our partnership with Microsoft has enabled TMSF to address several
critically important technology goals for public HBCUs that include upgrading
their current technology, increasing efficiencies and most importantly,
ensuring that they have the technology to remain equally competitive in
preparing young men and women for the global marketplace," said Dwayne Ashley,
president, Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, Inc.
    "These nine schools are now well positioned to directly benefit their
students, faculty and administrators, as well as the surrounding communities."
    Microsoft's $15 million software grant earlier this year launched TMSF's
technology initiative and the company is also providing technical assistance
to develop the initiative.
    "Microsoft's giving is built on the belief that people can do amazing
things if they have the necessary tools and resources, and our work with the
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund is another extension of that belief," said
Pamela Passman, head of Microsoft's Corporate Affairs. "In today's economy,
technology skills and training are more important than ever, and we hope these
grants help expand the education and employment opportunities for minority
college students while developing a more diverse technology workforce."
    Several additional TMSF member institutions will be selected in the next
few months to receive new software through the competitive proposal process,
which was designed by the Thurgood Marshall Technology Initiative Advisory
Committee. The institutions submit an application and a technology plan for
consideration. Based on the strength of their technology plans, the committee
identifies the institutions best prepared technologically to effectively use
the software and software solutions within a long-term technology strategy.
    TMSF's goal is for all administrative staff, faculty and students at its
member schools to have access to most-current technology applications,
hardware, networking systems and data communications.

    About the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund Inc.
    The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund Inc., named for the late U.S.
Supreme Court Associate Justice, is the only national organization of its type
that provides merit-based scholarships and programmatic support to students
attending the nation's public Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It
also provides capacity building support to its 45 member schools, which
educate 215,000 students annually. Since its inception in 1987, the Fund has
awarded more than $20 million in scholarships and programmatic support to more
than 4,400 students. TMSF also provides internship programs and joins
corporate and foundation partners in providing leadership training and support
to students preparing for undergraduate and professional schools.

    NOTE:  Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the
United States and/or other countries.