Press Release

2008 LDRSHIP AWARD HONORS DEVRY UNIVERSITY STUDENT MICHAEL VERA

Las Vegas, Nev. (June 27, 2008) – U.S. Marine Michael Vera’s commitment to his country is paramount. Distinguished by a list of honors ranging from the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for heroism at the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon to the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Vera is an outstanding young man.

To commend his military and academic accomplishments, Vera is a recipient of the Imagine America Foundation’s 2008 LDRSHIP Award. This award, granted to active duty, reservist, honorably discharged or retired military personnel attending career colleges nationwide, will honor Vera with a $5,000 cash grant sponsored by the Imagine America Foundation and Lockheed Martin.

As part of the annual Career College Association Convention and Exposition, the Imagine America Foundation will host the 2008 LDRSHIP Awards at a sit-down luncheon from noon to 2:15 p.m., Friday, June 27, at the Las Vegas, Nev., Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. The Imagine America Foundation is the research and scholarshipproviding arm of the career college sector.

While pursuing a career at DeVry University in Electronics Engineering Technology, Vera has maintained a perfect attendance rate and 4.0 GPA. These stellar accomplishments parallel his exceptional Marine Corps service where, in addition to the awards listed above, Vera has also garnered the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals.

Vera’s academic and military track record exemplifies what the LDRSHIP Award stands for: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage.

“Michael Vera is an inspiration to all of us at DeVry,” said Loretta Franklin, DeVry University President, Mid Atlantic Region. “The value and integrity of his military training and experience has easily been transferred over to his academic studies and student life on campus. We are proud of his military service and his academic excellence. We are honored by the fact that the Imagine America Foundation has chosen to award our student Michael Vera with its LDRSHIP Award for his honor, integrity and personal courage through his service to our country."

About DeVry University
As one of the largest degree-granting higher education systems in North America, DeVry University provides high-quality, career-oriented Associate, Bachelors and Master’s degree programs in technology, healthcare technology, and business and management. More than 57,000 students are enrolled at its 80+ locations in 26 states and Canada, as well as through DeVry University Online. DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA), www.ncahlc.org. DeVry University, a division of DeVry Inc., is based in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. For more information about DeVry University, visit http://www.devry.edu.

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Contact: Robert L. Martin, Imagine America Foundation President
Phone: (202) 336-6758
E-mail: bobm@imagine-america.org

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The Imagine America Foundation (IAF), established in 1982, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarship, research and training support for the career college sector. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided over $37 million in scholarship and award support for graduating high school seniors, adult learners and U.S. military veterans attending career colleges nationwide through its award-winning Imagine America® programs. The Foundation also publishes vital research publications for the higher education sector, honors achievement in career education and offers faculty development training. For more information about the Imagine America Foundation’s programs, please visit www.imagine-america.org.