Eastern region

Maryland Day 2006 a success
With an estimated attendance of nearly 75,000 people, and coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the university, Maryland Day 2006 was a huge success. The eighth-annual open house event was hosted April 29, at the University of Maryland and relied heavily upon volunteers to help organize the more than 400 events that were featured. Among the most visible organizations was Nelnet, with volunteers distributing prizes, college planning DVDs, and $7,500 in scholarships.

Working closely with the University of Maryland, a three-year Nelnet Alumni Affinity partner, throughout the event, Nelnet sponsored the anniversary documentary DVD Keeping the Promise: the Rise of the University of Maryland, as well as the “Beacon of Light” turtle sculpture, one of the 50 sponsored “Fear the Turtle” sculptures being displayed across the UMD campus. “Once again, I am proud to work with Nelnet on their sponsorship of Maryland Day. It is a pleasure to have them as a partner,” said University President, Dr. C.D. Mote, Jr. “Affording a higher education can be challenging, but we are honored that Nelnet supports our efforts to help deserving students.”

Beacon of Light Artist: UM Art League

To view highlights from Maryland Day 2006, visit www.marylandday.umd.edu.

Rocky Mountain region

Nelnet expands partnership with College Access Network
Nelnet and College Access Network announced the expansion of their strategic relationship whereby Nelnet will provide the student loan servicing and guarantee operations for College Access Network. The two organizations initially partnered in 1997 to form the Colorado Servicing Consortium, which provides life-of-loan servicing and uninterrupted sources of funding and service support of educational loans for lender partners.

In order to ensure that services would continue without interruption, To further ensure this commitment, Nelnet named College Access Network's former Director or Agency Operations Caron Peterson, Managing Director for this new joint venture. College Access Network will remain a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, dedicated to the needs of students, lenders, and schools.

To learn more about the College Access Network, visit www.college-access.net.

Southern region

Nelnet teams with ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
When ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition selected Essie Reed, known to everyone as “Big Mama,” to rebuild her home following Hurricane Wilma and they also contacted Nelnet to participate in the surprise. For its part, Nelnet created the Big Mama-Nelnet Scholarship Fund to provide more opportunities for Big Mama’s “kids” to attend college. Many of the children who seek Big Mama’s assistance come from homes fraught with drug, alcohol, poverty, and violence related problems. Reed teaches the kids the meaning of caring and self-reliance and how to love themselves so that they can love others. She also urges them to pray and use the wisdom and knowledge they have to overcome their problems.

Essie "Big Mama" Reed poses with Nelnet's Lidiette Esquivel and Eric Solomon, and her sons Christopher, Sam, and Brennan.

“We were excited to help Big Mama with her quest to guide young people in the right direction,” said Nelnet President Jeff Noordhoek. “The Big Mama-Nelnet Scholarship Fund will help her to make their educational dreams possible.”

Southwestern region

Nelnet looks to LoanSTAR
In late 2005, Nelnet completed the acquisition of LoanSTAR Funding Group, Inc., a prominent Texas-based secondary market and loan originator. Headquartered in Bryan, Texas, LoanSTAR has provided students and families with affordable access to college for more than 23 years.

LoanSTAR is recognized as a premier education finance administrator, providing technology-driven student loan origination, servicing, and other financial aid products and services to customers across the Sunbelt region, with a particular focus on the Texas market. Now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nelnet, LoanSTAR will retain its brand identity, including its CollEDGE national brand and will coordinate sales efforts with Nelnet to offer schools and students the absolute best products and services available.

“Nelnet and LoanSTAR are a terrific complement to each other,” said Ralph Rushing, President of LoanSTAR Funding Group. “We share a vision of helping students pay for college and will combine our local know-how with the resources and products of a national lender — it will be great for students, schools, and lenders.”

For more information about LoanSTAR, visit www.loanstar.com.

Western region

Chela strengthens Nelnet's presence in the west
Nelnet's recent acquisition of the Chela portfolio and brand will provide students with even more options to get the education they deserve, while keeping debt to a minimum.

In addition to the Chela portfolio, Nelnet has takeen ownership of all related servicing assets, including the lease on a servicing and origination center in Mesa, Arizona, used to service approximately $700 million of the Chela portfolio. The Mesa location will continue to provide education financing services to both Chela and Nelnet borrowers. The agreement has also granted Nelnet the rights to originate student loans under the Chela brand in the marketplace. The newly-combined Nelnet-Chela salesforce will continue to present the widely-recognized Chela name, which has been strengthened with additional resources, products, and services from Nelnet.

"We are excited that Nelnet shares our commitment to putting the interests of students first," said Douglas Dolton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chela Education Financing. “Our customers and school partners will be the ultimate winners in this partnership.”