Keiser University Announcing $1 Million in New Scholarships

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Keiser University, which celebrates 35 years of successfully providing career-focused education, will provide another $1 million in new scholarships in honor of its transition to not-for-profit status.

The regionally accredited independent university this summer received final approval from the Department of Education to complete its transition to not-for-profit status.  To mark the occasion, the university will provide $1 million in new scholarship funds and hold events at its campuses throughout Florida, beginning with its main Ft. Lauderdale campus on Sept. 8.

The transition event will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Ft. Lauderdale campus, located at 1500 NW 49th St. in Ft. Lauderdale.
"We believe this transition is an exciting turning point for Keiser University and higher education and will expand upon a tradition of service and educational opportunities.  In support of our communities, we are going to provide $1 million in new academic scholarships to Florida students in addition to our existing $12 million annual scholarship program," stated Belinda Keiser, Vice Chancellor of Community Relations and Student Advancement."

There will be six new scholarships for students and prospective students to apply for including a Founder's Scholarship; Developing Tomorrow's Talent Scholarship; Students Making a Difference Scholarship; Rising to New Heights Scholarship; Building the New Economy Scholarship; and Today's Heroes, Our Leaders Scholarship.

"Keiser University, a not-for-profit corporation, will continue its mission of career-focused education and also remain committed to their 'students first' philosophies.  This exciting commitment on the part of the Keiser family will provide an educational legacy for present and future Floridians to pursue and achieve their educational dreams," said Gregg Wallick, Chairman of the Board for Everglades University.

Keiser University serves nearly 18,000 students on 15 campuses, employing over 3,000 staff and faculty.  The university is Florida's leading statewide provider of career-focused, post-secondary education and is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Keiser University serves students seeking associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 60 high demand degree programs at its Florida campuses, online, Graduate School and College of Golf divisions.  Keiser University's educational reach extends globally through its international programs including the Latin Division, a cooperative agreement in the Eastern European nation of Moldova, and a campus in Shanghai, China.

For more information on Keiser University, visit www.keiseruniversity.edu

240 College Scholarships Awarded by the Richard and Mica Hadar Foundation

NEW YORK - Richard Hadar, founder and chairman of the Richard and Mica Hadar Foundation, spoke at the 18th Year celebration on August 8th, 2011. Held at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City, the evening included opening remarks by Richard Hadar, followed by performances by Hadar scholars.

The foundation has awarded close to 240 college scholarships since it started 18 years ago to talented students pursuing careers in the creative arts. It currently has 57 students attending undergraduate and graduate university programs. The graduation rate is 97%. Amongst the students that have graduated, many have achieved great heights in their chosen careers, and a number of them have gone on to earn doctoral degrees. Richard Hadar also stated he was very proud to see many of the graduates volunteer their time to serve as mentors for the foundation.

Richard Hadar explained that the foundation's focus was on the creative arts, because "artists have always been at the vanguard of positive change in society and no civilization has been able to survive without the vision and self identity articulated in its art." He also stressed his belief that "a student who demonstrated talent in any of the artistic fields; was accepted to a college, but needed financial assistance to attend, should be given that help."

The host for the celebration evening was Nathaniel Taylor Leach, a recent graduate from Emerson College, with a major in theater education. A gifted playwright and actor, Leach is teaching drama to elementary school students in Boston and will soon be touring with the Brown Box Theater Company, playing Sebastian in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Performers for the evening included violinists Blanca Cecilia Gonzalez and Iryna Kit, opera singers Emily Buse and Julia Partyka, actors Andrew Greer and Lydia Warr, flutist Tia Roper, and graphic designer Kevin Chao. Adria Giattino read a fiction excerpt, and presented a one-act play, directed by Hadar mentor David Miller, and starring Lydia Warr, Rejinal Simon and Nurit Monacelli. The evening closed with a photo essay by Janira Martinez. A reception followed the performance.