Montana Student Assistance Foundation Distributes $1.25 Million in Grant Funds to Montana Schools

Nonprofit Student Assistance Foundation (SAF) recently distributed $1.25 million in Acce$$funds to assist students in Academic Year 2010-11 at 21 Montana postsecondary institutions.

The grants are awarded each year by SAF to Montana students through financial aid offices at
all Montana postsecondary schools, including tribal and private institutions, and two-year and
four-year schools. The amount awarded to each school is determined by enrollment numbers.

Financial aid officers use the grants to help students in need pay for their education. Individual
award amounts vary by individual and are determined by the financial aid office.

“We are extremely pleased that we were able to increase the amount of Acce$$ Grant funds we
were able to provide to Montana students this academic year by almost $33,000,” said Kelly
Chapman, SAF’s vice president of Foundation Activities.

“Acce$$ Grants are the cornerstone of
our public benefits, and with the recent increase in student enrollment, the time was right to
invest these additional funds in the future of Montana students.”

The Acce$$ Grant program was established 10 years ago, and since that time, SAF has
distributed $8.2 million in Acce$$ Grant funds for allocation by financial aid officers to students
who meet their school’s criteria.

“(Acce$$ Grants) helped me succeed, become who I am today,” said Chelsea Goodwin, a
graduate of UM-Western. Goodwin received Acce$$ Grant funding to help her pay for tuition
throughout her academic career.

Student Assistance Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Montana corporation that provides students with
knowledge and tools to finance and pursue their postsecondary education. Funds generated by SAF are
returned to Montanans in the form of education grants and public benefit programs – to date more than
$19.4 million. For more information, visit http://www.safmt.org or http://www.smartaboutcollege.org.

Grant Amounts Received by Schools

The University of Montana and UM COT $373,411

Rocky Mountain College $25,053

MSU Northern $37,579

Flathead Valley Community College $60,126

Carroll College $37,579

Dawson Community College $11,274

The University of Montana – Western $30,064

Salish Kootenai College $25,053

Blackfeet Community College $15,031

Miles Community College $13,779

Fort Peck Community College $11,274

Little Bighorn College $9,520

Chief Dull Knife College $7,516

Fort Belknap College $6,263

Stone Child College $6,263

University of Great Falls $20,042

Montana Tech and Montana College of Technology $65,764

UM-Helena College of Technology $23,825

MSU Billings and MSU Billings College of Technology $145,306

MSU Great Falls College of Technology $35,900

Montana State University – Bozeman $289,378

Total $1.25 million