St. Edward's University and Wells Fargo have made a joint investment in the future by creating the Wells Fargo Award for Future Leaders in Business and Technology to recognize high school students who exhibit academic and leadership qualities and have an interest in business and technology. Earlier this year, principals and guidance counselors at more than 1,000 high schools across the country were invited to nominate qualified students from which a total of 85 students were selected as Wells Fargo Scholars. Of the winning students, 15 hail from Central Texas and 7 are from the greater Austin area. Wells Fargo Scholars will be considered for a four-year scholarship to attend St. Edward's. The program will continue into its second year, and nomination forms will be sent to high schools in November.

“Wells Fargo is proud to partner with St. Edward's University to recognize innovation and excellence by these 85 talented high school students,” said Rick Burciaga, regional president of Wells Fargo in Austin.

Tracy Manier, director of undergraduate admission at St. Edward's, added, “This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize students who, at such a young age, have been motivated and successful in the areas of business and technology. Because of the generous support of Wells Fargo, these scholars will be the innovative leaders of our future economy.”

Nominated by principals and guidance counselors, each student was required to meet the following selection criteria:

• Be a junior during the 2002–2003 academic year,
• Rank in the top 25 percent of his or her class,
• Be enrolled in an advanced academic curriculum,
• Have a combined minimum PSAT verbal and math score of at least 105,
• Embody the St. Edward's University educational mission and philosophy.

Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, St. Edward's University has been named as one of America's Best Colleges for 2004 by U.S. News & World Report. St. Edward's is a private Catholic, liberal arts university of approximately 4,350 students located in Austin, Texas.

Wells Fargo is a diversified financial services company — providing banking, insurance, wealth management and estate planning, investments, mortgage and consumer finance from more than 5,600 stores and the world's leading Internet banking site (www.wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally. Wells Fargo proudly serves the Austin community with more than 40 full-service locations and over 60 ATMs in the Austin area.