Contact:	Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 277-5915
April 18, 2002 UNM PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR FROM ISLETA SERVES AS MENTOR University of New Mexico Presidential Scholar Jennifer Lente of Isleta Pueblo serves as a mentor for new and current scholars and for youth in her community. A computer engineering major, Lente's interest in technology was sparked during an internship at IBM in Austin, TX, following graduation from Valley High School. "I have gone back to IBM every summer. I received a lot of experience and support. It has been a great opportunity and a great learning experience in the computer engineering field," Lente says. While school has been a full time job for Lente, she also serves as a campus ambassador for IBM. "I help them set up recruiting activities at UNM and recruit potential candidates for IBM positions, co-ops and internships," she says. Lente also gives of her time back home. She is a member of the Isleta Department of Education's Board of Education. She takes part in Project Venture, a program that teaches high school students how to be community leaders and how to facilitate activities for 5th, 6th and 7th graders such as high and low rope courses. "We also take the students on rock climbing, hiking, camping and river rafting trips. The program is designed to teach children how they can take positive risks rather than negative ones," she says. Lente graduates May 2004 and plans to pursue a master's degree at some point in the future. She is the daughter of Joseph and Marlene Lente of Isleta Pueblo and has a brother, Antonio, who will graduate from Valley High School this spring. Other presidential scholars from the area include Kimberly Baca and Mariessa Sanchez of Belen, Stanley Ways of Bosque Farms and Michael Greer and Jennifer Ridley of Los Lunas. Presidential Scholarships are offered exclusively to New Mexico's outstanding high school graduates. The scholarships are awarded on academic merit and leadership skills and renewable for up to four years, these scholarships go above and beyond the cost of tuition - paying for textbooks and other fees. In its twenty-fourth year of educating New Mexico's finest students, the PSP has offered tuition-free education through more than 2,250 scholarships, made possible by nearly $8 million in private support. Approximately 125 entering freshmen, representing a wealth of ethnic backgrounds from all across the state, receive the scholarships each year. There are about 450 scholars on campus this year, approximately ten times the numbers of similar scholarships offered by other universities. ###

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