U.S.News & World Report IN ASSOCIATION WITH the AXA foundation celebrate
$670,000 to Be Awarded to Students Across the Country
Applications Available in September

For the fifth consecutive year, U.S.News & World Report in conjunction with the AXA Foundation announce the offering of the AXA Achievement sm Scholarships. Dedicated to providing resources that help make college possible, AXA Achievement sm will award $670,000 in annual scholarships to students throughout the nation.

Applications are available in September via www.axa-achievement.com and the deadline for submissions is December 15, 2006. In addition, details of the AXA Achievement sm program will be included in the U.S.News & World Report 2007 America's Best Colleges issue, on newsstands August 21.

"We are committed to helping students achieve their goals and aspirations," said Bill Holiber, President of U.S.News & World Report . "Our partnership with the AXA Foundation facilitates this commitment."

Fifty-two students, one from each state, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico , will be selected to receive one-time scholarship awards of $10,000 each; 10 students will be selected as national winners from the pool of 52, earning an additional scholarship of $15,000, a laptop computer and the offer of an AXA internship. Qualified candidates will have demonstrated drive and determination to succeed, the ability to thrive in a college environment, and respect for self, family and community.

The scholarship is administered by Scholarship Management Services ä , a program of Scholarship America sm , one of the nation's largest nonprofit private sector scholarship and educational support organizations.

About AXA Foundation

The AXA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of AXA Equitable, one of the world's premier financial services organizations and a member of the global AXA Group, a leader in financial protection and wealth management. The Foundation directs the company's philanthropic and volunteer activities, working to improve the quality of life in communities across the country where AXA has a presence. Since 2003, the AXA Foundation has awarded over $13 million in college scholarships through its multifaceted flagship program, AXA Achievement , which provides resources that help make college possible: access and advice. More than 2,300 students, known as AXA Achievers, have received scholarships. For more information and to read about the 2006 AXA Achievers, visit www.axa-achievement.com .

About U.S. News & World Report

Founded in 1933, the weekly national news magazine U.S.News & World Report is devoted to investigative journalism and reporting and to analyzing national and international affairs, politics, business, health, science, technology and social trends. Through its annual rankings of America's Best Colleges , Best Graduate Schools and America's Best Hospitals , and its News You Can Use ® brand, U.S. News has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. Available online at www.usnews.com , the U.S.News Web site extends that brand promise and delivers the best, most accurate information on the Web, organized in a way that is accessible and easy to use.