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For Release: April 21, 1999

Barbara Nocera
(202) 467-5096

MAZDA AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO 10 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Scholarships allow students to spend six weeks in Japan

IRVINE, Calif. - Mazda today announced the names of the 10 finalists of the Mazda/YFU Summer Scholarship Program. Students will participate in a six-week exchange program in Japan.

Five students were selected from high schools nationwide. Five additional scholarships were awarded to high school children of Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) and Mazda dealership employees in the United States.

Underwritten jointly by The Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc. and Mazda North American Operations, the program stems from Mazda's desire to "build bridges" between the United States and Japan for future generations and strengthen existing relationships. "As we become a single global community, it is important to foster international friendships, even among high school students. The relationships these students develop today will become bridges between the United States and Japan in the future," said Richard Beattie, president and CEO of MNAO and chairman of The Mazda Foundation (USA).

YFU selected the finalists on the basis of academic achievement, extracurricular activities, volunteer and/or work experience, teacher recommendation, written essays and a general suitability for an exchange experience. A panel of national business, community and educational leaders assists in the selection process.

Recipients for the National Program are:
Amber Beisel, Louisville, KY
Gary Chow, San Francisco, CA
Elizabeth Kwo, San Francisco, CA
Linda Collins, Whitewater, WI
Steven Pulimood, Baltimore, MD

Recipients for the Mazda Employee Program are:
Laurence Ledford, Neshanic Station, NJ
Shaun Omori, Hilo, HI
Eleanor Roper, Dana Point, CA
Pooneh Siadat, Mission Viejo, CA
Stefeni May, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

The exchange program includes round-trip domestic and international transportation, orientation materials, counseling services, placement with a host family and a variety of special activities. Recipients are responsible for arranging their own passports, medical insurance, excess luggage tariffs and personal spending money.

Since establishing its YFU program in 1984, 275 students have visited Japan on Mazda scholarships. Mazda also provides scholarships for Japanese students to live with host families in the United States for one year. Through this program, more than 40 Japanese students have visited the United States.

Mazda sponsors the exchange program in conjunction with Youth for Understanding (YFU) International Exchange, a private, non-profit educational exchange organization. Based in Washington, D.C., YFU is one of the world's oldest and largest exchange organizations.

The Mazda Foundation (USA) was established in 1990 to demonstrate Mazda's commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities in which it does business. In addition to cross-cultural understanding, The Mazda Foundation supports charitable organizations that promote literacy, education, environmental conservation, and social welfare.

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) is responsible for the research and development, sales and marketing, and customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has approximately 800 dealerships nationwide and is owned by Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima, Japan.

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