EL SEGUNDO, CA. July 1998 - International Rectifier (IR) has awarded 22 graduating high school and continuing college students $1,000 scholarships as part of its Outreach Scholarship Program. The program, designed to encourage the study of science and engineering among young adults, focuses on students from schools near IR's world headquarters in El Segundo and its largest manufacturing plant in Riverside County.

This year, students from 13 high schools and two community colleges participated in IR's Outreach Scholarship Program. To qualify, each must achieve a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average (GPA), intend to enter or continue at an accredited college or university and complete an essay detailing their education goals. If winning students maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, they are eligible for the scholarship in subsequent years. This year, six students are returning scholarship recipients.

"As part of our Outreach Scholarship Program, each scholar also has the opportunity to apply for summer employment at International Rectifier," said IR CEO Alex Lidow. "We believe educational aid and on-the-job experience are essential to encourage young adults to pursue careers in the engineering and science fields, and we are particularly inspired by the number of returning winners this year."

The 1998 winners of an International Rectifier Outreach Scholarship were:

Repeat recipients of an International Rectifier Outreach Scholarship were:

Recipients and their families joined IR staff members at the Manhattan Beach Country Club in Manhattan Beach for a buffet luncheon and the awards presentation. Another event was also held at IR's Temecula HEXFET America facility in Riverside county, where local recipients and their families enjoyed a tour of the HEXFET America facility and a luncheon reception at the Thornton Restaurant in Temecula.