Ford Motor Company awarded academic scholarships to 80 Hispanic high school students as part of the nationwide 2005 Spirit of Accomplishment scholastic essay contest. The innovative online competition underscores Ford's commitment to multicultural communities through its dedicated Spanish-language Website, www.fordenespanol.com.

The winning students received a total of $160,000 in scholarships. Each contestant submitted a 300-word essay on the following topic: "As a young adult, what motivates you to strive towards achieving a better future?" Students also were required to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Students from across the country downloaded more than 4,000 applications.

"Ford recognizes the importance of a good education and the power students will have in shaping our future," said Darryl Hazel, president of Ford Division. "Spirit of Accomplishment encourages students to become positive, active members of society. I salute all the motivated young people who participated in this year's competition."

Among the hundreds of essays submitted, one common theme motivated the scholarship hopefuls: family. Many students credited their determination to strive for a better future to the trials and tribulations their parents experienced as immigrants settling in the United States. The students highlighted inspirational events and hardships as the catalysts driving them to achieve their version of the "American Dream."

Ford Motor Company has a long history of actively supporting the communities in which it does business. Ford recognizes a need in the Hispanic community to educate and develop the next generation. The Spirit of Accomplishment competition encourages high school students to achieve academic excellence and personal financial success, which, help to build thriving communities - one of the core goals of Ford Motor Company since its inception.

The Competition

The Ford Spirit of Accomplishment contest ran from January 3 to February 11, 2005. Teachers and community leaders served as independent judges. They analyzed submissions on the basis of originality, relevance to theme, clarity and grammar. The winners received a $2,000 scholarship to further their post-high-school education.

The Spirit of Accomplishment contest began in 1997 as part of Ford Motor Company's ongoing commitment to support the Hispanic community and encourage the pursuit of higher education. Over the past nine years, Ford has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to more than 650 students nationwide.

A complete list of the 2005 winners and photographs can be found on www.fordenespanol.com.