Brooklyn Park, MN - May 21, 2008 – Park Center Senior High School, Medtronic Foundation and Wallin Scholarship Program today announced that Robert Nelson and Edward Stronge of Park Center Senior High School have been selected as 2008 Medtronic Scholars. They will receive $4,000 per school year in scholarship money, totaling $16,000 for four years, as well as support services to assist them in their collegiate studies. Nelson plans to attend Iowa State University and Stronge will attend University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

Earlier this month Tenzin Jangchup and Shawn Nguyen were named Wallin Scholars, each receiving $4,000 per school year in scholarship money, totaling $16,000 for four years, as well as support services to assist them in their collegiate studies. Jangchup will be attending North Dakota State University and Nguyen will attend the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in the fall.

Jangchup, Nelson, Nguyen (Shawn), and Stronge were chosen as Medtronic Scholars and Wallin Scholars because of their academic records, demonstrated leadership and participation in community service and extra-curricular activities. Stronge and Nelson are part of the inaugural class of Medtronic Scholars, comprised of 18 students from nine north-metro high schools.

Jangchup and Nguyen were honored along with 17 other students from Roosevelt High School, South High School, Irondale Senior High School, Spring Lake Park High School and Park Center Senior High School by the Wallin Scholarship Program on May 15 with a reception and an awards ceremony at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis. Nelson and Stronge will be honored with 16 other students at a June 11, 2008 celebration at Medtronic World Headquarters in Fridley.

“Medtronic is proud to be rooted in the northern suburbs and we’re deeply committed to education,” said David Etzwiler, executive director of the Medtronic Foundation. “The Medtronic Scholars program aligns our commitment to north suburban communities with our passion for education by recognizing outstanding students in neighboring high schools for their achievements, and supporting their future endeavors and contributions to our community.”

The Medtronic Scholars program will continue to add 18 scholars each year over at least the next three years, offering a total of $810,000 in scholarships to area students through the year 2011. Since 1999, The Medtronic Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in educational grants to north suburban school districts, primarily directed to K-12 science programs.

The Medtronic Scholars program was created in partnership with Wallin Education Partners, which will administer the scholarships to winning students along with support services. Since 1991, the Wallin Scholarship Program has awarded approximately 2,000 scholarships and $20 million dollars in funds to deserving students from Minneapolis, Anoka-Hennepin and St. Paul district high schools.

Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Fridley, Minn., is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world. The Medtronic Foundation is committed to improving the health of people and communities. Its grant making is focused in three areas: health, education and community.