Terry Foundation named Independent Scholarship Provider of the Year

(Nov. 8, 2010)--The Terry Foundation, a Houston-based scholarship organization, recently was named the 2010 Independent Scholarship Provider of the Year by the National Scholarship Providers Association.

The Terry Foundation awards renewable four-year scholarships to Texas students at seven of the state's public universities and is the state's largest private source of scholarships at these universities. Terry Scholars are selected from graduating high school seniors who have been nominated by their intended universities. The awards are based on academic excellence, leadership and financial need with many of the recipients being the first in their families to attend college.

"The Terry scholarships make a big difference in our students' lives," said Ann Eisenberg, associate dean of the UTSA Honors College and associate professor of psychology. "There now are 54 Terry Scholars at UTSA, and the foundation has funded 71 UTSA scholars over the last five years since we began awarding them. Terry Scholars are able to follow their passions into the fields of teaching, nursing and the ministry. And, the full scholarships have allowed many to study abroad, something most of them might not have managed otherwise."

Now sponsoring 678 Terry Scholars currently enrolled at the seven universities, the scholarship program has awarded scholarships to more than 2,400 students since its inception. The foundation was started 1986 by Houstonians Howard Terry and Nancy Terry. Since the first class of Terry Scholars in 1987, the program has donated more than $80 million in scholarships.

The Scholarship Provider of the Year award recognizes scholarship providers who demonstrate exceptional leadership, efficiency and impact in their support of higher education. The accompanying cash contribution to the organization's scholarship fund is sponsored by Fastweb, a nationally recognized leader in providing information and services to college-bound students seeking assistance with scholarships and financial aid.

In accepting the award, foundation President Ed Cotham said, "The Terry Foundation is honored to be selected as the 2010 Scholarship Provider of the Year. We are particularly pleased on behalf of our founder, Howard L. Terry, whose vision from 1986 has grown into a program larger than he ever imagined."

The National Association of Scholarship Providers is the national professional organization for scholarship sponsors with more than 250 scholarship programs as members. NSPA's mission is to advance the collective impact of scholarship providers and the scholarships they award by sharing best practices and providing professional development opportunities for students.

For more information, contact Robert L. Parker, vice president for administration, Terry Foundation, at 713-552-0002.