Press Release For Immediate Release	MEDIA CONTACTS: Mike Liberty American Institute For Foreign Study River Plaza, 9 West Broad Street Stamford, CT 06902-3788 (203) 399-5187 mliberty@aifs.com www.aifsabroad.com

New Scholarship Program to Help Increase Study Abroad Participation of African Americans

Atlanta, GA, – April 6, 2009 – A new scholarship program designed to increase the number of African Americans who study abroad was announced today.

The new program, launched by the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) and the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), will make $100,000 in scholarship money available to African American undergraduate students studying abroad starting in fall 2010.

William L. Gertz, President and CEO of AIFS, and Dr. Lezli Baskerville, President and CEO of NAFEO, announced this groundbreaking new scholarship program at NAFEO’s 40th anniversary conference. Representatives from 120 Historically and Predominantly Black Colleges and Universities attended the conference that was held in Atlanta.

While African American students represent 12% of U.S. higher education enrollment, their participation on study abroad programs is marginal. According to Open Doors, an annual publication of the Institute of International Education (IIE), only 3.5% of study abroad students are African American.

“NAFEO is committed to increasing the number of black college students who study abroad,” states Baskerville. “In this time of global crisis and economic uncertainty, it is critical that black college students participate in opportunities that allow them to develop leadership skills and an international perspective. The NAFEO-AIFS partnership is one step toward achieving that goal.”

“AIFS is proud to be working with NAFEO,” states Gertz. “Our mission is to bring the world together through exchange, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to ensure that more African-American students are able to study abroad in the years to come.”

Scholarship winners will be able to study on programs sponsored by AIFS in London and Italy (Richmond, the American University in London); Stellenbosch, South Africa (Stellenbosch University); the Czech Republic (Charles University); and other programs in Spain and France. Programs are available in the summer, spring and fall semesters.

For more information about this new scholarship program, please contact:

NAFEO, www.nafeo.org, (202) 552-3300

AIFS, www.aifs.com, (800) 727-2437       

About AIFS:

Founded in 1964, the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) is one of the oldest, largest and most respected cultural exchange organizations in the world. With global offices in 15 countries, AIFS organizes cultural exchange programs for more than 50,000 participants each year. Programs include college study abroad, au pair placement, camp counselors and staff, gifted education, high school study/travel and insurance services. Since 1964, more than one million students and teachers have participated in AIFS programs worldwide.

About Nafeo:

The National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher education (NAFEO) is the 501 (c) (3), tax-exempt, not-for-profit umbrella organization of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Founded in 1969, NAFEO is the only membership association of its kind, representing the presidents and chancellors of the diverse black colleges and universities: public, private and land-grant, two-year, four-year, graduate and professional, historically and predominantly black colleges and universities.