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Michel Financial Group Announces Scholarship Program for Local College Students

College students of multicultural backgrounds from Los Angeles County will have a chance to win scholarships as part of a program sponsored by Michel Financial Group (www.michelfinancialgroup.com) and their corporate partner, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual).

Students of African-American, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Hispanic descent who reside in Los Angeles can apply for one of three $5,000 college scholarships. Applicants must meet certain academic criteria, such as having concentrations in the fields of accounting, business, economics, finance, marketing, math or statistics.

Nationally, MassMutual is making $135,000 in scholarships available in nine cities as part of the program.

"We've always been committed to attracting talented individuals to the field of financial services, and in particular to supporting people of diverse backgrounds, both as financial professionals and as clients," said Kim Michel, Michel Financial Group's CEO. "These scholarships will help deserving candidates to obtain the education and experience they'll need to become financial professionals and, ultimately, to help Los Angeles' increasingly diverse community."

This marks the second consecutive year that Michel Financial Group has participated in the scholarship program with MassMutual. This year, MassMutual is expanding the scholarship program, which began in 2009 with four cities, to nine cities.

The scholarship program's application deadline is May 30, and winners will be notified in late summer.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be of African-American, Asian/Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic descent;
• Be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate student in a degree-seeking program at a U.S.-accredited institution in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam;
• Have a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale;
• Be a rising sophomore, junior, senior or fifth-year senior student enrolled in college full-time;
• Be a resident of Los Angeles, CA;
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with a valid permanent resident card or passport stamped I-551;
• Apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and
• Demonstrate leadership and extra-curricular activities.

The program will be administered by the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

For more information on how to apply or to obtain an application visit www.hsf.net/massmutual.aspx or contact Meesha Dibner mdibner@finsvcs.com

About Michel Financial Group
Michel Financial Group is a member of the MassMutual Financial Group. The firm offers access to a full range of retirement, investment and risk management services to individuals and small businesses. The firm has more than 80 financial professionals and specialists and services over $400 million in total insurance, investments and retirement assets as of January 23, 2009.

Securities and investment advisory services offered through MML Investors Services, Inc., member SIPC (www.SIPC.org), 1875 Century Park East, Suite 1950, Los Angeles, CA 90067. 310.407.2800.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives.

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