Melanie Dawn Helton and Bryan Dale Jungers will each receive a one-time, $500 scholarship from the Foundation. Both are graduating seniors from Boron High School - one of the prerequisites for eligibility for the scholarship.

Ms. Helton plans to begin college at the junior college level and study for a career in business and accounting.

Mr. Jungers will be attending California State University, Humboldt, with a planned course of study in environmental sciences.

Gate fees paid by guests at the Borax Visitor Center are the sole source of revenue for funds that are disbursed to the community by the Foundation. In March of this year, the Foundation also awarded a total of $4,250 to other non-profit organizations in the community.

The Visitor Center is administered as a partnership with local community leaders. Current Borax Visitor Center Foundation directors include, from the community, Boron Chamber of Commerce President James Welling, Muroc School District Superintendent Irene Sherman, PhD, and Supervisor Steve Perez's Field Representative Don Maben. From the mine, directors include General Manager Doug Batchelor, Operations Executive Scott Griffin, ILWU Local #30 President Ray Panter, and Community Affairs Coordinator Nancy LaMoureaux.

Borax is a division of London-based Rio Tinto, the world's largest mining concern. Rio Tinto companies around the world are committed to fostering active partnership, mutual respect and long-term commitments in the communities where their employees work and live.