Congresswoman Matsui Announces Release of Recovery Funding for Local Scholarships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

CONTACT: Mara Lee

(202) 225-7163

CA - Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-05) announced that Sacramento-area students will receive $184,897 in scholarships to attend the University of California Davis Medical School and California State University, Sacramento. Funding for the scholarships comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will be distributed to disadvantaged students.

"These scholarships, funded by the Recovery Act, will help the less fortunate in our area attend college and signifies a long-term investment in our community. These students will go on to become our doctors, nurses, and public health officials," said Rep. Matsui. "The additional Recovery Act funds will help increase the strength and size of our public health workforce."

"Recovery Act funds are important because they improve our already successful medical research and benefit the wide variety of work and scholarship taking place at UC Davis, which translates into improved health and health care for all," said Frederick J. Meyers, Executive Associate Dean, who oversees research and education within the university's School of Medicine. "In addition to supporting research ranging from autism risks in infants to cardiovascular disease, this latest round of awards is especially valuable because it can help reduce disparities in the health professions work force by providing scholarships for talented but economically disadvantaged students who otherwise might not be able to afford medical school."

"We are pleased to receive Federal funds that will provide critically needed scholarships for disadvantaged students" added Dr. Marilyn Hopkins, Dean, College of Health and Human Services at Sacramento State.

The federal funds are given to the universities and then awarded to local students studying subjects related to health care. The University of California, Davis will receive $175,038 and California State University, Sacramento will receive $9,859. Interested students should speak to their university's financial aid office and inquire about the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program. More information can also be found here.

To see recovery funds that have been allocated throughout Sacramento, visit www.matsui.house.gov/recovery for a complete list and interactive Google Map.

# # #