West Virginia University student Kristin DiLeo is the recipient of a Sallie Mae/TuitionPay scholarship and a check for $2,000 that goes along with it. The scholarship was awarded to DiLeo during a brief presentation in the Student Accounts office Monday (Feb. 26).

DiLeo, a senior human nutrition and foods major from Altoona, Pa., was one of approximately 1,500 WVU students automatically registered to win the scholarship as a result of enrolling in TuitionPay, a monthly payment plan offered through Sallie Mae and WVU .

I was really surprised when I got the call,DiLeo said.I didnt realize Id been registered and I was wondering what this was all about.

DiLeo plans to use the money towards graduate school next spring, as she pursues a masters degree in human nutrition.

Sallie Mae provides several nationwide scholarship opportunities for students and families that participate in educational loan programs. The company provided $2,000 in discretionary funding to WVU as a reward for achieving a record high number of students enrolled in TuitionPay.

With the funding we received from Sallie Mae it was decided this would be a good opportunity to give something back to the students, so we awarded the full amount as a scholarship,said Brandon Twigg, manager of Student Accounts.

Registration for the scholarship was open to any WVU student who enrolled in the plan prior to the Aug. 19, 2006, deadline and who maintained an account in good standing.

All students signing up before the August deadline were also entered into a nationwide scholarship drawing that Sallie Mae does each year,Twigg said,The $2,000 scholarship we awarded was provided for WVU students only.

According to the companys Web site, Sallie Mae is the nation’s largest provider of higher education payment solutions and has assisted more than 5 million students and their families with funding towards education.