Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Connecticut Chapter has joined hands with Stamford Dollars for Scholars to sponsor a merit-based renewable scholarship with a potential value of $4,000 for a local 2015 high school graduate.

Gary Freeman, President of Stamford Dollars for Scholars, stated, "Having GOPIO join our scholarship initiative further supports our mission to partner with local organizations who value education and support local high school graduates.”

Shelly Nichani, President of GOPIO-CT, the Connecticut chapter, added, "We are so pleased to implement one of our education initiatives - scholarship programs, by partnering with Stamford Dollars for Scholars. Our members believe in the importance of education and we appreciate having the opportunity to align our financial support where we can help people in our own community.”

Students residing or attending high school in Stamford who will graduate in 2015 are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The GOPIO scholarship will be awarded among the 26 total scholarships being offered by Stamford Dollars for Scholars in 2015. GOPIO-CT will present the award recipients its annual banquet on June 20^th.

About Stamford Dollars for Scholars® Stamford Dollars for Scholars is a locally run and supported, all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2011 with a simple mission: to mobilize the community and support Stamford students with impactful scholarship awards to pursue education beyond high school. In three years the organization has awarded a total of 53 scholarships with a value of over $200,000. Stamford Dollars for Scholars is one of over 500 local Dollars for Scholars affiliates throughout America. Stamford Dollars for Scholars conducts events and activities to raise awareness and generate scholarship funds. To learn more visit stamford.dollarsforscholars.org and become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/StamfordD4S.

Stamford Dollars for Scholars P.O. Box 3559 Stamford, CT 06905 (203) 885-SD4S

About Scholarship America® Scholarship America mobilizes support for students getting into and graduating from college. Since 1958, Scholarship America has distributed more than $2.9 billion in scholarship assistance to more than 1.9 million students, funding both entry-level and multi-year scholarships and emergency financial grants. More information is available at www.scholarshipamerica.org.

About Global Organization for People of Indian Origin Founded in 1989, the Global Organization for People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the relationship of people of Indian origin (PIOs) with the communities in which they live and work globally. GOPIO-CT is the Connecticut based chapter and its goals include: present and promote the interest of PIOs, help shape relevant policies, promote better understanding of Indian history, culture and customs and mobilize the growing professional and intellectual resources of Indian Americans for economic and social programs beneficial to the community. For more information, please visit www.gopio-ct.org.

Attached Photo: GOPIO-CT Scholarship Committee members with the officials of Stamford Dollars for Scholars, from left to right:   Hari Srinivasan; Sanjay Santhanam (GOPIO Scholarship Committee Chair); Gary Freeman (President, Stamford Dollars for Scholars); Shelly Nichani (President, GOPIO-CT); Priya Easwaran (GOPIO Scholarship-Executive Director); Bruce Moore Sr. (Board Member, Stamford Dollars for Scholars); Joe Simon; Anitha Bhatt