Major Sponsors

SunTrust Education Loans
     SunTrust Education Loans is the program’s major sponsor. SunTrust generously contributes $29,000 annually for scholarships, including a $3,500 scholarship to the overall winner, $2,500 to the first runner-up, and $2,000 scholarships to each of the other five finalists. All 13 honorable mention honorees receive a $1,000 scholarship from SunTrust.
     SunTrust Education Loans also contributes $5,800 annually to help the non-profit College Student of the Year Foundation, Inc. produce this annual event. SunTrust’s donation helps the Foundation promote the award and produce the awards ceremony. The total value of SunTrust’s generous donation is $34,800 annually.
     SunTrust began its affiliation with this program in 1999.

 
  2004 Student of the Year Anup Patel is awarded his SunTrust check by
  Florida Department of Education Commissioner Jim Horne, and Lt Governor
  Toni Jennings.

Office Depot
     Office Depot, led by Director of Community Relations Mary Wong, generously donates gift certificates to all 20 honorees. The overall winner gets $1,000, and each of the other six finalists earn $500 each. The 13 honorable mention recipients receive $250 in gift certificates. Office Depot's total donation is $7,250 in gift certificates. Office Depot also donates an additional $2,750 to help the non-profit College Student of the Year, Inc. foundation promote and produce the awards. The grand total of this donation is $10,000 annually.
    Office Depot began its affiliation with this awards program in 2001.

Office Depot, Inc.
Community Relations
Ms. Mary Wong, Director
2200 Old Germantown Road, MC-IRPR
Delray Beach, FL 33445
800-937-3600
561-438-7626
WEB: www.officedepot.com
E-MAIL: mwong@officedepot.com

Office Depot, Inc.
Community Outreach
Nancy A. Pugliese, Manager
2200 Old Germantown Road
Delray Beach, FL 33445
561-438-1916
WEB: www.officedepot.com
E-MAIL: npugliese@officedepot.com

     Office Depot also has opportunities for students interested in Internships and college grads who are looking for a career in Merchandising, Retail Management and Information Technology.

Office Depot, Inc.
College Relations
Anne Foote Collins, Director of Recruiting Services and College Relations
2200 Old Germantown Road
Delray Beach, FL 33445
561-438-8239
WEB: www.officedepot.com/jobs/college.asp
E-MAIL: acollins@officedepot.com

 
  Office Depot's Anne Foote Collins.

Valued Sponsors

Gulfstream International Airlines
     Gulfstream and Vice President for Sales and Marketing Wendy Clements generously donate two round-trip tickets (worth approximately $200 each) to each of the seven finalists, and one ticket to each of the 13 honorable mention winners. Gulfstream also donates 20 percent of the value of their donation, or $1,080, in additional round-trip tickets to College Student of the Year, Inc. foundation to help us promote and produce the awards. The total value of Gulfstream’s generous donation is approximately $6,480 annually.
     Gulfstream International Airlines began its affiliation with this awards program in 1997.

Jiffy Lube
     Jiffy Lube and Director of Public Relations Cindy Landers generously donate gift certificates (worth $30 each) to any Florida location to all 20 honorees. The total value of Jiffy Lube’s generous donation is $720.00.
     Jiffy Lube began its affiliation with this awards program in 1999.

Checkers Drive In Restaurants
     This popular fast-food chain, based in Clearwater, Florida, generously donates combo-meal gift certificates to all 20 honorees. The total value of this donation is $1,200 annually.
     Checkers Drive In Restaurants began its affiliation with this awards program in 1999.

The Anthony Grandio Company
     The Anthony Grandio Company, which makes specialty checks such as Star Trek, Florida Natural, Xena: Warrior Princess, and The Wizard of Oz, generously donates complimentary checks (valued at $30 each) to all 20 honorees. The company, led by President David Ertrachter, also supports the College Student of the Year, Inc. foundation through a cash donation of $150. The total value of this donation is $750 annually.
     The Anthony Grandio Company began its affiliation with this awards program in 1996.

Darden Restaurants Foundation
     Darden, led by Executive Director Patty DeYoung, operates Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants, and generously donates complimentary meals.
     Darden began its sponsorship in 2001.

Contact:
Darden Restaurant Foundation
Patty DeYoung, Executive Director
P.O. Box 593330
Orlando, FL 32859-3330
(407) 249-4000, ext. 5214
FAX: (407) 245-5124
E-MAIL: pdeyoung@darden.com
WEB: www.darden.com/community/foundation

Publication Sponsors

Reason
     Reason is the nation's leading monthly magazine of "free minds and free markets," covering politics, culture, and ideas through a provocative mix of news, analysis, commentary, and reviews. Reason generously donates one-year subscriptions (valued at $19.95) to each of the 20 honorees. The total value of this donation is $399 annually.
     Reason began its affiliation with this awards program in 1988.

Contact:
Reason
Mike Alissi
Publisher
Reason Foundation
3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 391-2245
FAX (310) 391-4395
E-MAIL: malissi@reason.com
WEB: www.reason.com

Ideas On Liberty
     This respected issues-oriented publication formerly known as The Freeman generously donates one-year subscriptions (valued at $30 each) to all 20 honorees. The total value of this donation is $600 annually.
     Ideas On Liberty began its affiliation with this awards program in 1990.

Imprimis
     Published by Hillsdale College, Imprimis, led by Doug Jeffrex, features commentary by leading thinkers and generously donates one-year subscriptions (valued at $50) to all 20 honorees. The total value of this donation is $1,000 annually.
     Imprimis began its affiliation with this awards program in 1990.