Cingular Wireless Donation To Benefit NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women's Scholarship Programs

OKLAHOMA CITY, May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless is enhancing its support of NCAA athletics and postgraduate studies by presenting a check for $43,500 to the NCAA's Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship Programs. Cingular, an NCAA Corporate Champion since 2003, will make the presentation during Opening Ceremonies of the Women's College World Series (WCWS) on June 1. The WCWS will take place at Don Porter Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from June 2-8, and will be televised on ESPN2.

"This is just one way that Cingular can use its relationship with the NCAA to help strengthen the role that intercollegiate athletics and higher education play in a student-athlete's life," said David Garver, executive director of national marketing and sponsorships for Cingular. "It is important for us to continue to create opportunities for women and minorities, both on the playing field and in the classroom. The Women's College World Series is an excellent platform to announce this scholarship contribution."

The Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship Programs were created by the NCAA to increase the pool of and opportunities for qualified minority and female candidates in intercollegiate athletics through postgraduate scholarships provided by the NCAA national office.

Sixteen scholarships to ethnic minorities and 16 scholarships to women are available annually to college graduates who are entering the first year of their initial postgraduate studies in a sports administration or related program. Cingular's donation will allow for an additional six scholarships to be given in the 2005-2006 school year. The goal of the program is to assist students interested in gaining careers in intercollegiate athletics.

The scholarship donation helps further Cingular's mission to foster learning, balance, character, community, spirit and fair play among the NCAA's 360,000 student-athletes. In addition, Cingular provides financial resources, manpower and expertise to help emphasize the important role intercollegiate athletics, including 88 championships in 23 sports, plays in our society. Its participation in this program also provides funding for related NCAA youth programs.

Melody Eclavea, Cingular's marketing director for Oklahoma, will make the check presentation to Kimberly Ford, Associate Director for Professional Development at the NCAA.

ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving more than 50 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corporation , has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation and the largest mobile- to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/ . Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://www.cingular.com/newsroom .

About the NCAA

The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 360,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 49,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA Championships in Division I, II and III sports. For more information, go to http://www.ncaa.org/ .