Press Release 07/18/2005

REESE NAMED NATIONAL FINALIST FOR THE SAMSUNG AMERICAN LEGION SCHOLARSHIP

(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) -- Jon Michael Reese of Springfield, MO was selected as one of approximately 99 national finalists for the Samsung American Legion National Scholarship. Reese was selected from among over 120 applications by the state scholarship committee of the Missouri American Legion at The American Legion State Convention in Springfield, MO the weekend of July 8-10. Reese will now compete nationally for one of seven four-year college scholarships expected to total $20,000 each. By virtue of his selection as a National Finalist, Reese will receive a $1,000 scholarship, if not selected as a national winner.

Reese was selected based on his school and community involvement, academic standing, financial need, and leadership skills. Reese will be a senior at Greenwood Laboratory School this Fall and currently intends to pursue a higher education degree in medicine or international business. He is the son of Jon Reese and Kim Sullivan, both of Springfield. Reese is the great grandson of Homer Reese and grandson of Homer Reese, Jr. who served with the Army during World Wars I and II, respectively.

Ozark Empire Military Officer Association in Springfield sponsored Reese at the 2005 session of Missouri Boys State.

Eligible applicants attended The American Legion Boys State of Missouri, Inc. or The American Legion Auxiliary Girls State, Inc. in Warrensburg this past June and were descendants of war veterans. Boys State and Girls State are leadership and citizenship training programs sponsored by the Missouri American Legion and the Missouri American Legion Auxiliary respectively.

The scholarships are derived from earnings on a $5 million Samsung Corporation endowment. The electronics firm joined with The American Legion in 1995 to offer scholarships to direct descendants of honorably discharged wartime veterans in recognition of the sacrifices of American servicemen and women during the Korean War.

Dong-Jin Oh, president and chief executive officer of Samsung North America, says the scholarship program “is the best way to show our appreciation to the United States and to U.S. war veterans.”