ALCOA FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THREE PITT STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL OF INFORMATION SCIENCES

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 14 -- Three outstanding students at the University of Pittsburgh recently received scholarships funded by the Alcoa Foundation. The foundation made two separate gifts in 1998 and 1999 to the School of Information Sciences for a total of $40,000 for minority students enrolled in information sciences and telecommunications.

The students, Cheryl Bowie, Stacie Hill and Lena Wilson, excel in their chosen fields of study. The support they received from the Alcoa Foundation has helped to ease the financial burden they face and enables them to focus more on their education.

"We are committed to increasing the financial support for our minority students," said Dean Toni Carbo. "That is why I am so grateful that the Alcoa Foundation has chosen to support the School of Information Sciences through minority scholarships."

Bowie, a native of Los Angeles, is enrolled in the Master of Science in Information Science program and will complete her degree this April. She received her bachelor's from California University of Redlands in 1975, majoring in economics and business administration. While in California, she worked as a COBOL programmer for Bank of America in San Francisco. She currently is pursuing a career in data administration, with a focus on Oracle. She is also an active community volunteer, working with the Urban League to provide Internet training at Hill House.

Hill is working toward a Master of Science in Telecommunications (MST) and, like Bowie, will complete her degree in April. A 1996 graduate of Spelman College, Hill received her bachelor's degree in computer science. Originally from Penn Hills, Hill lived in Indiana in 1998 and worked as a systems analyst for Ely Lily & Co. Her goal is to build on her education and experience in telecommunications and to pursue a career in the international telecommunications industry.

Also enrolled in the MST program, Wilson will complete her degree in April, 2001. She received her degree in computer science from Norfolk State in 1999. Wilson intends to pursue a doctoral degree from the University of Pittsburgh, which will allow her to work in research, either in industry of academia. Wilson also is an accomplished athlete whose talent in softball earned her All American honors in 1997 for NCAA Division II. Her jersey was officially retired upon graduation.

"The Alcoa Foundation is making a big difference in the lives of these three individuals, all of whom are fine students who are giving back to their communities," said Carbo. "Partnerships like this one are critical to ensuring that women from minority groups have the opportunity to develop into tomorrow's leaders in the information industry."

-30-

2/14/00/shg