TWO PENNSYLVANIA STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS AT PITT AMBASSADORS DINNER, Former British Prime Minister John Major Will Be Featured Speaker

PITTSBURGH, April 29 -- Two high school seniors will be awarded full four-year scholarships to the University of Pittsburgh at the 1998 Pitt Ambassadors Scholarship Dinner, Thursday, April 30, at 6 p.m. in the Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers. The Rt. Hon. John Major, MP, former prime minister of Great Britain, will be the featured speaker.

Rebecca McNutt, a senior at United High School in Armagh, Pennsylvania, and Jessica Woodhouse, a senior at Canon-McMillan High School in Canonsburg, have been selected as this year's Pitt Ambassadors Scholars. The recipients are selected on the basis of their accomplishments within their schools and their communities.

McNutt, who received High Honor Roll standing throughout her high school career, is the vice president of her school's chapter of the National Honor Society, assistant editor of the school's literary magazine, and accompanist for her church and high school choruses. Active in her community, she organized the Environmental Club's 1997 Earth Day Tree Sale and several charity events with her church youth group. She plans to major in psychology at Pitt.

Woodhouse is a member of the National Honor Society and the Southwest Academic League. She has served as state treasurer and secretary of the Technology Students Association and she is the anchor for Canon-McMillan Television's morning news program. Her community involvement includes volunteer work with the United Way, Special Olympics, the American Legion, and the American Cancer Society. She intends to study business, communications and political science at Pitt.

John Major was appointed prime minister in November 1990 and served in that post until May 1997. Prior to becoming prime minister, he was serving as chancellor of exchequer. Other government positions which he held in Great Britain include secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs, chief secretary to the treasury, and minister of state for social security and the disabled.

The Pitt Ambassadors Program is a partnership between the university and area businesses which underscores a shared commitment to educating this region's young people. The event chairman is Clyde H. Slease, III, Esq., a partner with Doepken, Keevican & Weiss, P.C., and the honorary chairman is Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg.

All proceeds from the group's annual dinner go to support scholarships.

The speaker at last year's scholarship dinner was General H. Norman Schwarzkopf. More than 700 people attended the event, which raised $89,000 for the scholarship fund. Other previous Pitt Ambassador Dinner speakers have included President George Bush, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, Secretary of HUD Jack Kemp and Dr. William Bennett.

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EDITORS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: Former Prime Minister John Major will be available for a five-minute photo opportunity prior to the dinner at 5:50 p.m. in the Kings Terrace Room on the Ballroom Level of the Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers. The scholarship recipients and their families will also be present at that time. Video and still cameras are permitted, but no flash photography is allowed. Attendance at the dinner and speech is limited to individuals who have purchased tickets. No cameras (video or still) will be admitted to the dinner and speech.