PHS Pacificare Hlth Sys

* Seventy students nationwide receive $2,000 scholarships to pursue careers in health care CYPRESS, Calif., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. (NYSE:PHS) awarded seventy (70) $2,000 scholarships to Spanish-speaking, bicultural students pursuing careers in the health care industry. PacifiCare announced its scholarship program, Latino Health Scholars, in 2003 to educate students about career opportunities for Hispanics and Latinos in the health care field. The scholarships are funded by the PacifiCare Foundation. In order to qualify for a scholarship, applicants are required to demonstrate a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better and be fluent in Spanish and English. In addition, applicants must show proof of acceptance and enrollment into an approved health care program at a university, community college or accredited technical college. According to the Office of Minority Health, there is a nationwide shortage of bilingual and bicultural professionals in the health care field. Specifically, the shortage of Spanish-speaking personnel in nursing and other allied health professions, coupled with the growth of the Latino population in the United States, requires training and recruitment of an ever-greater number of qualified professionals. "There is a need nationwide for more culturally and linguistically appropriate care," said Russell Bennett, PacifiCare's vice president of Latino Health Solutions. "We awarded scholarships to students whom we believe best exemplify PacifiCare's brand pledge, 'Caring is good. Doing something is better.' Their academic excellence and passion for helping others we feel will make a tremendous impact in serving the health care needs of Latinos." Since the Latino Health Scholars program was launched in 2003, PacifiCare has awarded $356,000 in scholarships to 155 deserving students. "Once again we were very impressed by the caliber and maturity of all the applicants," Bennett added. "Since we announced the scholarship program two years ago, we have seen so much enthusiasm for Latino Health Scholars -- not only among our applicants but also the Latino community and PacifiCare's employees as well. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we feel gratified that we have made a positive difference in the lives of these deserving youths who are beginning their journey toward realizing their academic and professional aspirations." PacifiCare Freedom Award: Two $25,000 Scholarships In addition, Jose Castillo of Laredo, Texas, and Laura Pajar of La Puente, Calif., each received a $25,000 scholarship as part of the PacifiCare Freedom Award program. The PacifiCare Freedom Award, established earlier this year, is a $50,000 grant given annually in honor of individuals and organizations that, according to PacifiCare Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard Phanstiel, "have demonstrated tremendous sacrifice and commitment to make a positive difference in our communities." The award was inspired by the heroic actions of U.S. Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta who was killed last November by enemy action in Iraq. Fighting alongside his fellow marines in Falluja, Peralta, wounded by gunshots, reached out for a grenade that was hurled by an insurgent and cradled it to his body to protect others from the blast. His heroism saved the lives of five of his fellow Marines. Touched by his story and his ultimate sacrifice, PacifiCare has dedicated the inaugural 2005 PacifiCare Freedom Award in honor of Sgt. Peralta. For this year, PacifiCare expanded its Latino Health Scholars program to include -- in addition to the 70 $2,000 scholarships -- two $25,000 PacifiCare Freedom Award scholarships for the most outstanding bilingual and bicultural students dedicated to pursuing careers in health care. About Latino Health Solutions PacifiCare launched its Latino Health Solutions division in 2002 to build stronger ties with Latino members, physicians and organizations and to offer health and consumer services and products that meet the unique health care needs of Latinos. More information about PacifiCare and Latino Health Solutions is available via the PacifiCare en Espanol Web site, http://www.pacificarelatino.com/, or via email at . Spanish- speaking customer-service representatives are available via a dedicated toll-free number at 800-730-7270. About PacifiCare PacifiCare Health Systems is one of the nation's largest consumer health organizations with nearly 3.3 million health plan members and approximately 11.3 million specialty plan members nationwide. PacifiCare offers individuals, employers and Medicare beneficiaries a variety of consumer-driven health care and life insurance products. Specialty plan operations include behavioral health, dental and vision, and complete pharmacy benefit management through its wholly owned subsidiary, Prescription Solutions. More information on PacifiCare Health Systems is available at http://www.pacificare.com/. NOTE TO EDITORS: Complete list of 2005 scholarship winners follows. Announcement regarding the two PacifiCare Freedom Award winners will be released tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 15). "Caring is good. Doing something is better." is a service mark of PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. PacifiCare/Latino Health Scholars Winners 2005 This Year's Winners (listed by each winner's home state) Arizona Name Residence College Major Eduardo Alcantar Scottsdale Arizona State University Pre-Med Michelle Garrido Mesa Northern Arizona Psychology University Margarita Quiroga Phoenix Arizona State University Social Work California Humberto Avila Madera California State Biology/ University, Fresno Pre-Med Yadira Ayon Calexico San Diego State Clinical University Psychology Monica Bennett Irvine University of Psychology and Southern California Neurosciences Katie Bermudez Los Angeles Whittier College Pre-Med Neuroscience Nancy Campos Stockton Pitzer College Human Biology Vincent Cervantes Merced Azusa Pacific University Biology Lucy De Leon Bellflower CSU Dominguez Hills Biochemistry (Pre-Med) Guadalupe Fonseca Huntington Wisconsin University Biology Park Elizabeth Fox Oceanside Cornell University Human Biology Laura Garcia Denair CSU Stanislaus Psychology Sarah Gastelum Chula Vista UCLA Biology Ivette Gomez Castroville Stanford University Human Biology Clarissa Gonzalez Fresno Fresno Pacific Psychology Samuel Gonzalez Glendale University of Psychology California Berkeley Erika Green Indio San Diego State University Kinesiology Jennifer Guerrero Montebello UCLA Chemistry Margarita Camino CSU Stanislaus Pediatric Henriquez Nursing Zulema Hernandez San Jose Evergreen Valley College Nursing Alonzo Iniguez Norwalk UCLA Biochemistry Terry Izaguirre El Cajon Grossmont Community Critical Care College Nursing Ryan Monreal Madera Loyola Marymount Athletic University Training Beatriz Montoya Woodland Woodland Community Nursing Hernandez College Anna Moreno Anaheim Brandeis University Psychology Roxanna Ochoa La Habra UC Irvine Biology Griselda Orozco Watsonville Santa Clara University Psychobiology Mercedes Perez Huntington USC Biomedical Park Engineering Patricia Picazo Fontana La Sierra University Nursing Vanessa Pulido Merced University of California Psychology Berkeley Maria Rangel Firebaugh UCLA Biology Karla Reyes Bonita Wellesley College Psychology Vanessa Rodriguez Pleasanton Vanderbilt University Biological Sciences Elyse Romero Mission Mount St. Mary's Nursing Hills Maria Vigil Santa Rosa Mills College Biology (Pre-Med) Sandra Zermeno Stevenson University of Pediatrics California Merced Colorado Christian Montes Lafayette Regis University Nursing Florida Jorge Castro Plantation University of Notre Dame Pre-Med Elvis Gomez Tamarac University of Florida Psychology (Pre-Med) Lina Londono Hollywood Florida International Physician University Assistant Awilda Rosario Brandon University of Tampa Pre-Med Illinois Jose Rodriguez Peoria Illinois Central College Nursing Rosa Rodriguez Chicago Loyola University Nursing Massachusetts Maria Malden Massachusetts College Pharmaceutical Rosales-Acosta Science New York Jose Fernandez Levittown Sophie Davis School of Pre-Med Biomedical Education Ohio Eddairis Morales Lorain University of Akron Nursing Oregon Graciela Keizer Willamette University Biology & Gonzalez Spanish Maria Montoya Eugene Southern Oregon Psychology University Texas Mariela Aguillon Lewisville Texas Women's University Nursing Jessica Barrera Pasadena Houston Baptist Biology and University Business Susann Dallas Southwestern Adventist Pre-Med/ Colquehuanca University Biology Adriana DaCosta Corpus University of Texas Psychology/ Christi Pre-Med Jeanette El Paso UTEP Microbiology De Santiago and Forensic Science Cesia Delgado Mission UT-Pan American Pre-Med Jose Dongo Plano Southern Methodist Pre-Med University Raymundo Fuentes Eagle Pass St. Edwards University Chemistry/ Pre-Med Cynthia Gallardo Laredo Texas A&M Pre-Med Maurilio Garcia Humble Northwestern University Biomedical Engineering Daniel Garza Mission UT-Pan American Pre-Med/Biology Sara Gonzalez La Vernia Texas Lutheran University Pre-Nursing Ashley Guerrero San Antonio San Antonio College Nursing Kimberly Jaime Cleveland Lamar University Nursing Maria Malagon Dallas Texas Women's University Nursing Selenia Paz Houston University of Houston Biology Vanessa Quezada Houston University of Houston Nursing Margarita Saenz Los Fresnos UT Brownsville Biology Alejandra Serna Pearland University of Houston Biology Washington Lizeth Chiprez Sunnyside Stanford University Human Biology Jesus Iniguez Puyallup University of Washington Biology 2005 PacifiCare Freedom Award Winners Jose Castillo Laredo, Duke University Biochemistry/ Texas Spanish Laura Pajar La Puente, USC Biology/ Calif. Pre-Med DATASOURCE: PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. CONTACT: Dan Miller, PHS Media Relations, +1-714-226-3726, Web site: http://www.pacificare.com/ http://www.pacificarelatino.com/

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