Medical & science-based programs will give 12 students an educational advantage

HOUSTON (MAY 1, 2009) – TIAA-CREF, national financial services group and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, medical, research and cultural fields announced today that its annual contribution to The Health Museum (also known as the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science) will provide 12 students with scholarships to attend the 2009 medical and science-based summer programs known as Summer Discovery.

“TIAA-CREF is honored to support the great legacy of medical educators in Texas with these scholarships. It is our hope that we will encourage young people to pursue their interests in science and medicine” said Tameeka Aviles, Director, Strategic Sales, TIAA-CREF.

For the past five years, TIAA-CREF has recognized teaching physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals in Texas who have a long history of significant contributions to medical education with the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award. The recipient receives a cash honorarium and a donation is made toward The Health Museum’s summer camps. This year, The Health Museum will offer 12 summer camp scholarships through this contribution—given in the name of the 2008 recipient of the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator award, Dr. Henry W. Strobel, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

For the past five years, TIAA-CREF has recognized teaching physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals in Texas who have a long history of significant contributions to medical education with the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award. The recipient receives a cash honorarium and a donation is made toward The Health Museum’s summer camps. This year, The Health Museum will offer 12 summer camp scholarships through this contribution—given in the name of the 2008 recipient of the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator award, Dr. Henry W. Strobel, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

“We are so grateful to TIAA-CREF for giving The Health Museum the means to provide scholarship money to smart, worthy kids who deserve to attend our camps but otherwise couldn’t,” said Becky Seabrook, Vice President-Education, The Health Museum. “We are also honored to be giving these scholarships in the name of Dr. Henry Strobel, a man who has made an impact in the medical and science community both here and abroad.”

Camp scholarships are awarded to families who demonstrate a need. The scholarships will allow students who generally can’t afford to attend summer camp the opportunity to enjoy summer-long programs focused on their favorite subjects like science and medicine.

The Health Museum offers a wide variety of camps for kids with all interests, such as ‘Mini Medical School’ where kids can learn all about the human body from head to toe, inside and out or they can experience life on the Red Planet during ‘Mission to Mars’ or follow in the footsteps of Leonardo DaVinci, the ultimate artist-scientist, in ‘Camp DaVinci.’ These camps are geared toward kids ages 5-13 who yearn to learn and who have a strong interest in the medical and science fields.

Parents whose children apply for the scholarships are asked to submit their most recent Federal Tax Return (1040) along with any additional information they feel is pertinent and should be taken into consideration. Students are asked to submit their top three camp choices along with a brief statement as to why they would like to attend Summer Discovery. Each applicant is reviewed based on set criteria for family income.

For a full list of the camps offered or to apply for a summer camp scholarship, log on to www.thehealthmuseum.org. Applications will be accepted from March 15 through April 15 and the recipients notified by April 30.

About TIAA-CREF
TIAA-CREF (www.tiaa-cref.org) is a national financial services organization and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields with $363 billion in combined assets under management (12/31/08).

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., members FINRA, distribute securities products.
C44466