Sony in America believes in investing in the education of the nation's children. By contributing to the educational well-being of students throughout the country today, we believe that we are helping to lay the foundation for the informed citizens and educated employees of tomorrow.

Sony Electronics Inc. focuses much of its philanthropic energies on educational programs. The company is a long-time supporter of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, which develops scholarships designed to increase the representation of African American, American Indian and Latino women and men in careers in engineering, math and science. Sony Electronics Inc. also supports Rolling Readers USA. Employees from the company read aloud to the same group of elementary school students once a week. The company donates two new books per year to each of the school's students. Sony Electronics Inc. also funds the Star Class Scholarship program.

Another way that Sony Electronics Inc. aids education is by giving electronics products to schools. Among the facilities that have received equipment assistance: Northview High School (Dothan, Alabama), Adrian C. Wilcox High School (Santa Clara, California), Orange Glen High School (Escondido, California), The Community School (Teaneck, New Jersey), Queens College (New York, New York), University of California, Berkeley, and University of California, San Diego.

Sony Electronics Inc. contributes to the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, which provides merit scholarships and programmatic support to students attending the nation's historically Black public colleges and universities. Sony Electronics Inc. also donates funding to other national non-profit organizations providing scholarships including the College Fund/UNCF, the Jackie Robinson Foundation, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the National Achievement Scholarship Program and Tuskegee University.

A variety of educational initiatives are undertaken by Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. Sony Pictures Imageworks, through its IPAX initiative, provides professional development opportunities, internships and student scholarships to member schools including De Paul University, Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Otis College of Art and Design, University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television, Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center and Stanford University. At the Julian Dixon Culver City Library, the Sony Pictures Homework Center provides computers, books and homework helpers for thousands of students from more than 150 schools who visit the center each year. Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. supports other education-related efforts including Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, Films by Youth Inside, Visual Communications, and the Mary Pickford Institute.

Sony Electronics Inc. and the "Star Class" Scholarship Program: Helping High School Students Go to College

When the Sony Technology Center-San Diego holds its annual "Star Class" scholarship program rally at Orange Glen High School, hundreds of sophomores will attend the ceremony. During the next three years, the students will vie for the two coveted college scholarships awarded at the end of their high school careers. The requirements are steep. Students will only be considered if they maintain a 3.0 grade point average, have perfect attendance (except for excused absences) and most importantly, make strong contributions to the community.

The "Star Class" program began in 1991 with the first scholarships awarded to two members of the graduating class of 1994. The partnership benefits both the students and Sony Electronics Inc. The students are exposed to Sony professionals by participating in events such as Job Shadow Day and Career Day. The students also assist Company employees at Sony special events and Sony-sponsored volunteer events such as the March of Dimes Walk, Junior Achievement and Sony Global Volunteer Day.

Each year, twelve sophomore students are selected as finalists based on portfolios they create throughout the year. The portfolios outline their personal achievements, community involvement activities and lifetime goals. In their junior and senior years, these twelve students work on community-related issues. In the second half of their senior year, they are required to rewrite their portfolios, emphasizing their accomplishments over the past two years. A panel comprised of educators, civic leaders and a Sony representative interviews all the finalists and selects two winners who are awarded $10,000 scholarships.