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For Release: April 14, 2000

Contacts:
Chino Chapa 415-445-9930 (Hispanic Scholarship Fund)
Barbara Nocera 202-467-5096

HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND AWARDS 13 SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLLEGE STUDENTS ON BEHALF OF MAZDA FOUNDATION

--Funds provide full tuition for students attending California State
University at Fullerton, University of California at Irvine--

San Francisco - The Hispanic Scholarship Fund has announced that 13 California students have been selected as recipients of the Mazda Foundation scholarships, which include full tuition and additional funds for books and supplies for the 1999-2000 school year.

Seven students from the University of California at Irvine were each honored with $5,000 scholarships. Six additional $2,500 scholarships were awarded to students at the California State University at Fullerton. The students' majors include business, engineering and mathematics.

At Mazda North American Operations' headquarters today, President and CEO Richard N. Beattie, who is also the Chairman of the Mazda Foundation, hosted a reception to honor the scholars. "Because of the success of our first-year partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the Mazda Foundation is delighted to renew its commitment in 2000. Mazda is proud of the academic achievements and extra-curricular accomplishments of our scholars at Cal Sate Fullerton and UC Irvine."

"In addition to providing new scholarships to more Latino students this year, we also look forward to continuing the scholarships for last year's recipients," Beattie said.

"Mazda embraces diversity and believes that varied views, values and ideas are key components for success. A college education will provide our students with a solid foundation upon which to build successful futures."

Beattie presented the students with Certificates of Recognition as symbols of Mazda's commitment to their education.

Sara Martinez Tucker, HSF's President and CEO, attended the reception and said, "We are grateful to Mazda Foundation for both recognizing the need and supporting the effort to increase college education among Hispanic-Americans. In the next decade, Hispanics will continue to grow in number, influence and responsibility and it is vital that we educate more and more Hispanic Americans as a critical necessity to our Country's future. By increasing the number and level of college degrees among Hispanics, we are not only providing tremendous benefit to the Hispanic community today, but also making a positive impact on the America of tomorrow."

The scholarship recipients from Cal State Fullerton, and their majors, are:

Edward Berber, La Puente, CA. - Economics
Antonio Castro, Jr., Santa Ana, CA. - Electrical Engineering
Mike Cruz, Santa Ana, CA. - Mathematics/Statistics
Denise Garcia, Whittier, CA. - Mathematics/Statistics
Angelo Solorio, Santa Ana, CA. - International Business/Relations
Victor Vega, Chino Hills, CA. - Mechanical Engineering

The scholarships recipients from UC Irvine, and their majors, are:

Lily E. Becaria, Norwalk, CA. - Civil Engineering
Narciso Chaidez, Whittier, CA. - Mechanical Engineering
Lizabeth Cordova, Downey, CA. - Civil Engineering
Fernando Gonzalez, Costa Mesa, CA. - Electrical Engineering
Carlos Lizarraga, South Gate, CA. - Chemical Engineering
Sergio M. Sandoval, Oxnard, CA. - Mechanical Engineering
Jorge Zamudio, Gardena, CA. - Mechanical Engineering

This is the second year the Mazda Foundation has partnered with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Nationally recognized as the premier Hispanic education organization in the country, HSF's objective is to strengthen America by advancing the college education of Hispanic Americans. Specifically, HSF has as its mission to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees to 18 percent by the year 2006.

HSF is now also the largest and fastest-growing scholarship granting organization in the community. Established in 1975, HSF set out to provide scholarships based on need and merit to students from diverse ethnic backgrounds in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. In its first year, more than 115 students received scholarships that totaled $30,000. This year, HSF awarded more than $9 million in the prestigious scholarships to more than 4,200 deserving students. In its first 24 years, HSF awarded more than 40,000 scholarships worth approximately $47 million.

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

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