Houston, TX – Riviana Foods Inc., parent company to Mahatma® Rice, announced today that the company will continue its long-standing commitment to education by providing $2,000 scholarships to five outstanding Los Angeles high school seniors. Nationwide, the 2007-2008 Mahatma Rice Scholarship Program, along with program partner Univision Radio Network, will award $52,000 in educational scholarships to 26 students during special award ceremonies honoring the students and their families in May 2008.

“Riviana Foods understands the financial burden that many families face when sending their child to college, said Alfredo J. Gomez, senior product manager for Mahatma Rice. “We hope that by helping so many young people reach their dream of a higher education, we can help improve the standards for their families, local communities and our national community.” With college costs on the rise, Gomez urges parents, teachers and guidance counselors to encourage graduating seniors to seek out and apply for scholarship funds such as those presented by Mahatma Rice to help offset higher education expenditures. “Providing encouragement and support goes a long way in motivating students to develop a mindset that they can be successful,” said Gomez, who has been directing the scholarship program for the past 18 years.

To apply, students must complete an application and write an essay of 150 to 250 words, in English or Spanish. This year’s essay topic is “How will your college education help you to achieve your lifetime goals?” Twenty finalists will be chosen from the essays submitted. A panel of judges will interview finalists and select five winners, based on conciseness, content, originality and grammar. Application deadline is February 15, 2008.

Now in its 20th year, the Mahatma Scholarship program has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to 243 alumni who are earning or have earned college degrees. Recipients have attended such institutions as Dartmouth, Stanford, Brigham Young University, UCLA, USC, University of California at Berkley, M.I.T., Rice University and the University of Miami. For more information and to download an application form, visit www.mahatmarice.com/scholarship.

Application Information
Students can obtain information about the Mahatma Rice Scholarship Program three ways:
•By visiting www.mahatmarice.com/scholarship,
•By requesting application forms for the Mahatma Rice Scholarship program from their college advisor; or
•By contacting Mario Michel at KLVE/KSCA/KRCD/KTNQ Radio at 818-500-4411.

Mahatma Rice also offers a helpful guide on “How to Write a Winning Essay” that is downloadable at www.mahatmarice.com/scholarship.

Scholarship Guidelines
Eligible students must be high school seniors currently attending a Los Angeles Area high school. Essays of 150 to 250 words, typed or printed clearly, may be submitted in English or Spanish and will be judged on conciseness, creativity, originality and grammar. The essay topic is “How will your college education help you to achieve your lifetime goals?” Students must include their name at the top of the essay. Essays must be submitted with a completed application form.

Essays and completed application forms must be sent by regular mail only (no certified mail, email or overnight services) and postmarked no later than February 15, 2008 to: The Mahatma Rice Scholarship Program, 75-22 37th Avenue, #224 Jackson Heights, NY 11372.

Based in Houston, Texas, Riviana Foods Inc. (www.riviana.com) is one of the largest processors, marketers and distributors of branded and private label rice products in the United States. Principal brands include Mahatma® (www.mahatmarice.com), Minute® (www.minuterice.com), Success® www.successrice.com), Carolina® (www.carolinarice.com), WaterMaid® (www.watermaidrice.com), River® (www.riverrice.com), S & W® (www.s-and-wrice.com) and Gourmet House® (www.gourmethouserice.com). Riviana is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ebro Puleva, S.A., the leading Spanish food group, with interests in sugar, dairy, rice and pasta products. Its brands include Puleva® dairy products; Azucarera® sugar; La Cigala®, Brilliante®, and Nomen® rice brands and Panzani® pasta, as well as New World Pasta Company pasta products, including Ronzoni®, San Giorgio®, American Beauty®, Healthy Harvest®, Skinner®, Prince®, Creamette® and Catelli® brands.

Press Contact Information

Riviana Foods Inc.
kpark@kimberlypark.com
713-660-9567

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