Sallie Mae, the nation’s saving, planning, and paying for college company, announced that it will award a $25,000 college scholarship to a Delaware high school student as part of the company’s Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program. The scholarship was made possible by the family of former executive Charlie Rocha, who made a generous contribution to the Bridging the Dream Scholarship Fund to honor his legacy. The Rocha family and Sallie Mae Chairman and CEO Raymond J. Quinlan made the announcement on Sunday at the company’s second annual 5K race to support college scholarships.

“One of the most fitting ways to honor my husband’s legacy is to continue his good work,” said Chrissy Rocha. “Charlie believed in this important scholarship program, but even more so, he believed in the exceptional scholarship recipients who overcome obstacles in their lives to make that dream of college a reality. My daughters and I are thrilled that a student from Delaware will benefit from this scholarship and honor Charlie’s legacy and passion for education.”

In response to the generous contribution by the Rocha family, Sallie Mae Chairman and CEO Raymond J. Quinlan announced the company would match the donation, funding an additional scholarship in 2018. The company will now offer seven $25,000 Bridging the Dream Scholarships, up from five in 2017. Over the past two years, Sallie Mae has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students through the program.

“We are humbled by the generosity of Chrissy and the Rocha family,” said Raymond J. Quinlan, Chairman and CEO, Sallie Mae. “Charlie’s creativity, energy, and drive, his ability to connect and inspire all of those around him, and his commitment to helping young people reach college will live on through the Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program. It’s particularly gratifying to award a scholarship here in Delaware, Charlie’s home away from home for more than eight years.”

Beginning Aug. 23, high school counselors and community leaders may nominate students who exemplify excellence both inside and outside the classroom and have overcome obstacles. For more details, visit SallieMae.com/BridgingTheDream.

For more information about saving, planning, and paying for college, visit SallieMae.com.

Sallie Mae (Nasdaq: SLM) is the nation’s saving, planning, and paying for college company. Whether college is a long way off or just around the corner, Sallie Mae offers products that promote responsible personal finance, including private education loans, Upromise rewards, scholarship search, college financial planning tools, and online retail banking. Learn more at SallieMae.com. Commonly known as Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.