WASHINGTON, DC – March 8, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — CampusMBA, the award winning education division of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), today announced that it is accepting applications for its Path to Diversity Scholarship Program, which enables industry professionals from diverse backgrounds to advance their professional growth and career development through industry education.
“As the mortgage finance industry continues to be in a period of rapid change, it is important that the next generation of industry professionals be equipped with the skills needed to prosper in an uncertain regulatory environment spurred by implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act,” said Jeffrey Schummer, MBA’s Vice President of Education. “The Path to Diversity scholarships provide opportunities for these industry professionals to extend their knowledge and enhance their careers, while ensuring that the industry meets the needs of the diverse communities we serve.”
Developed to increase cultural diversity throughout the industry, Path to Diversity is available to all employees of MBA’s more than 2,200 member companies. Individuals chosen to receive Path to Diversity scholarships receive a $2,000 voucher toward CampusMBA education courses and designations. Scholarships are primarily geared toward enrollment in to CampusMBA’s Signature School of Mortgage Banking (SOMB) program. Recipients may also choose from residential or commercial offerings delivered through distance learning or instructor-led training.
Path to Diversity scholarships are awarded on a regular basis, based on essays and letters of recommendation. The Scholarship Award Task Force, comprised of industry leaders, reviews candidate applications and awards scholarships based on availability of scholarship funds. The Path to Diversity program continues through a sponsorship provided by the Research Institute for Housing America (RIHA), a trust fund subsidiary of MBA. The following companies have also provided scholarship funds: Bank of America, Cenlar, Irwin Mortgage, Option One Mortgage Corporation, SunTrust and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
Companies can participate in the Path to Diversity program by enrolling as a participating company or by sponsoring 10 or more scholarships. Additionally, member firms providing internships to qualified college students are eligible to receive free distance-learning courses for each intern through CampusMBA.
To date, 414 scholarships have been awarded since the program’s inception in 2001. To learn how to apply for a scholarship, visit CampusMBA’s Web site at www.mortgagebankers.org/pathtodiversity/ or call (800) 348-8653.
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The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is the national association representing the real estate finance industry, an industry that employs more than 280,000 people in virtually every community in the country. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the association works to ensure the continued strength of the nation’s residential and commercial real estate markets; to expand homeownership and extend access to affordable housing to all Americans. MBA promotes fair and ethical lending practices and fosters professional excellence among real estate finance employees through a wide range of educational programs and a variety of publications. Its membership of over 2,200 companies includes all elements of real estate finance: mortgage companies, mortgage brokers, commercial banks, thrifts, Wall Street conduits, life insurance companies and others in the mortgage lending field. For additional information, visit MBA’s Web site: www.mortgagebankers.org.
