Denver, Colo. (Sept. 16, 2009) – The Wilke Family Foundation has granted the American Indian College Fund $15,000 for scholarships for American Indian students. This grant will support qualified American Indian students who show academicachievement and involvement in their communities by providing financial resources to encourage them to complete a college degree.

Ten thousand dollars of the grant will establish the Edwin Arwin Thornton Scholarship Fund in memory of Edwin Arwin Thornton. Liesl Wilke, who sits on the board of directors for the American Indian College Fund and established the foundation with her husband, Jeff, said, “This Endowment has been established to honor Edmund Arwin Thornton, a beloved father, husband, and grandfather. Ed was a kind, generous man with a bright spirit. He brought laughter to those around him. He was an engineer who built many of the bridges that join the Florida Keys. He taught himself civil engineering over the course of one summer (he studied electrical engineering in college) and with skill and determination became a master in his field and the owner of his own company. None of his family every doubted that they were dearly loved. This scholarship honors that love and, in some small way, returns it to him.”

With an education, American Indian students can build a better life for themselves, their families, and make valuable contributions to their communities and nation.

Richard B. Williams, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, said, “The generosity of The Wilke Family Foundation will help American Indian students earn a higher education. In 20 years the American Indian College Fund has seen the transformative power of education in the lives of Native people and in Native communities. We are grateful for The Wilke Family Foundation’s generosity and commitment to American Indian education.”

About the American Indian College Fund

With its credo “Educating the Mind and Spirit,” the Denver-based American Indian College Fund is the nation’s largest provider of private scholarships for American Indian students, providing more than 5,000 scholarships annually for students seeking to better their lives and communities through education at the nation’s 33 accredited tribal colleges and universities. For more information about the American Indian College Fund or to make a donation, visit www.collegefund.org.