Auburn University's College of Education will honor the recipients and donors of its 96 student awards during its annual scholarship ceremony Sept. 23.  The 96 scholarships awarded this year represent an increase of 25 awards over the 71 scholarships, assistantships and fellowships presented last year.  These awards totaling more than $169,000 come from annual contributions and awards made from the college's $5.7 million scholarship endowments.

"To commemorate our 90th anniversary during the 2005-06 academic year, we set a goal of 90 scholarships for 90 years.  Thanks to the generosity of so many of our friends and alumni, we were able to reach and exceed our scholarship goal," said Education Dean Frances Kochan,  "This annual ceremony celebrates the true investments made in today's education and our ability to continue preparing tomorrow's competent, committed and reflective professionals."

Nine new scholarship funds were established since the 2005 scholarship ceremony and presented for the first time this year.  These scholarship funds include: The Hester Wear Atchinson Endowed Scholarship, The Martin Luther and Exa Beck Endowed Scholarship, The Betty Mclendon DeMent Endowed Scholarship, The Betty Thrower Freeman Annual Scholarship, The Dr. Maxwell C. King Annual Scholarship, The Richard A. Scott Memorial Annual Scholarship, The Kathryn McClellan Strock Annual Scholarship, The Barbara Booth Baird Endowment for Graduate Awards and The James R. and Frances R. Molnar Endowment for Graduate Awards.

Student support is one component of the Auburn University's current, largest-ever fundraising campaign, "It Begins at Auburn," which is a $500 million comprehensive campaign that will raise funds for all colleges and schools on campus as well as the Ralph B. Draughon Library, Athletics, Auburn University at Montgomery and the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. The campaign's focus includes student scholarships, faculty and academic program endowments; facilities and equipment; research and current operations.

Since October 2001 the College of Education has raised $10.8 million.  These funds are used to support students, faculty and various programs within the college.  With more than 2,300 students, the college hosts the largest graduate enrollment and fifth-largest undergraduate enrollment on campus.

Auburn University is a preeminent land-grant and comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 50 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabama's largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.