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Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and GE Launch College Scholarship Program

"Ronald Reagan believed in educating and inspiring the future leaders of tomorrow," said Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., chairman of the board of trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. "The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program enables us to continue this tradition and keep his spirit alive among the youth of today."

Qualified applicants will be evaluated on leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship:

• Leadership- Scholars pursue leadership roles that have a positive impact in communities and showcase the value of lifelong learning.
• Drive- Firm believers "that our best days are ahead" scholars, have the conviction, ambition, discipline and courage to make their dreams reality.
• Integrity- Rooted in values and ethics, scholars possess the unique combination of integrity, dependability and humility that defined President Reagan's leadership.
• Citizenship- Scholars are driven by a sense of civic commitment and actively engage in their communities to affect positive change.

The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program will annually select up to 20 recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for an additional three years - up to $40,000 total per recipient. Scholarships will be applied to student tuition, room, and board while the recipient is pursuing a bachelor's degree at an accredited U.S. college or university.

GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said, "GE prides itself on continuous learning and leadership development. We are proud to have Ronald Reagan as a part of our leadership tradition. His optimistic style and enduring belief in innovation and technology are great examples for tomorrow's leaders. We believe that the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholars will continue President Reagan's legacy."

With a total $15 million grant, GE is the presenting sponsor of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration, a year-long celebration for the President's 100th birthday on February 6, 2011. As part of this partnership, $5 million was committed to establish this 10-year national college scholarship program. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation is contributing $3 million to the program.

From 1954 through 1962, Ronald Reagan worked for GE as host of a weekly television series, General Electric Theater, and traveled as a GE spokesman to 139 GE plants meeting more than 250,000 employees. As part of each episode, Reagan highlighted the work of these employees by promoting GE products like automatic dishwashers and electric can openers, products that were transforming American homes with the era's emerging technologies. Reagan punctuated each spot with GE's tag line at the time: "Progress is Our Most Important Product."

Today, GE employs more than 130,000 American workers. Consistently lauded by outside sources such as BusinessWeek and FORTUNE magazines for principles considered core to President Reagan himself, GE has been ranked among the world's best companies for leaders, as one of Fast Company's most innovative, and as one of GI Jobs magazine's top military friendly employers while consistently scoring well as one of the best places to launch a career.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the legacy of Ronald Reagan and his timeless principles of individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride. The Foundation also supports a scholarship program for graduates of Ventura County, Calif., high schools. More information about both programs is available at www.reaganfoundation.org/scholarships.

Qualified candidates may apply online between January 20, 2011 and March 18, 2011. To be considered for this award, candidates must complete the secure online application, in its entirety, prior to the deadline. Applicants must be nominated by a community leader, such as a high school principal, elected official or nonprofit executive.

Recipients will be recognized at an awards ceremony in summer 2011.

For more information on application requirements and a link to the application please visit:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gereaganscholarships

About Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation:

Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Centennial Celebration - is a historic year-long celebration to commemorate the 100^th birthday of the 40^th President of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan. Visit www.reagancentennial.com to learn more. The mission of the Reagan Presidential Foundation is to preserve and promote his legacy of inspired freedom.

About GE:

GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6579944&lang=en

Press:
Ronald Reagan Foundation
Melissa Giller, 805-522-2977
mgiller@reaganfoundation.org
or
GE
Megan Parker, 203-373-2020
megan.parker@ge.com