CANTON - The William Randolph Hearst Foundation has awarded $250,000 to St. Lawrence University, enhancing the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Native American and North Country Students.

With the addition of the grant, the fund will enable the University to support two William Randolph Hearst Scholars per academic year, beginning with the fall 2011 semester.

Since it was established in 1991, the fund has provided 18 scholarship awards. The Foundation awarded an additional grant to the University to enhance the fund in 1996.

St. Lawrence University President William L. Fox said, "I know of no more effective way to change lives for the better than by increasing access to education, and that is what the William Randolph Hearst Foundation has helped do for our students. On behalf of our community, I thank it for assisting St. Lawrence by strengthening our ability to provide students from disadvantaged backgrounds affordable access to a high-quality, private education. We are most grateful for this support."

In 2006, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation awarded the University a grant of $500,000 for renovations and improvements to arts facilities in the Noble Center on campus. In recognition, the center's rehearsal and performance studio is named the William Randolph Hearst Studio.

The charitable goals of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation reflect the philanthropic interests of founder William Randolph Hearst: education, health, social service and culture. Within these four areas, the Foundation assists institutions in providing opportunities to underserved and underrepresented populations.