The 2003 Breakfast for Scholars – a benefit for the Center for International Studies at West High School – will be held Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 a.m. at the Westin Hotel, 1672 Lawrence St. in downtown Denver. The public is welcome to attend.

The featured speaker will be Colorado's Attorney General Ken Salazar, elected in 1998 and reelected for a second term in 2002 as the 36th Attorney General of Colorado. Attorney General Salazar has led efforts in Colorado to reduce youth and family violence, combat fraud against the elderly, and protect Colorado's environment.

Dottie Lamm, former Colorado First Lady and popular workshop presenter on "Leadership and Risk" will be the Mistress of Ceremonies.

Jordon Perlmutter & Co., Concordia on the Lake and the Raccoon Creek Golf Club will present the event, while KMAS Telemundo-Denver will be the media sponsor. Also joining as sponsors are Jerry Feld, Club 404, Nate Feld, USBank, and Vectra Bank.

CIS Foundation President Melanie Grant announced that there would be no charge for the 2003 Breakfast for Scholars. "At the end of the breakfast, there will be an opportunity to contribute, without any minimum or maximum gift level suggested,” she said.

Proceeds will provide travel scholarships, support the extensive language program (which offers the opportunity to major in one of six languages), and provide specialized textbooks and materials for international studies.

Established in 1986 as a Denver Public Schools Magnet Program, the CIS program has succeeded far beyond the dreams of its founders. Since that time more than 1,000 high school students – 81 percent minority students – have been accepted into the program. CIS offers an intensive, academically challenging program with its specific international and intercultural experience. Students earn a Diploma of International Studies in addition to a high school diploma.

“What all these students share is a desire to go beyond the limits,” said Dr. Daniel Lutz, founder and Director of the Center for International Studies.

Since its inception, CIS has helped contribute to a remarkable increase in the rate of college entrance among West High graduates – from 30 percent to 70 percent. Over the past two years, 100 percent of CIS diploma recipients have gone on to colleges throughout the United States.

The Center for International Studies Foundation is a 501 C (3) not-for profit organization, established to support the mission of CIS, "Developing Tomorrow's Global Citizens." The CIS Foundation Board includes President, Melanie Grant; Vice President Socrates Sclavenitis, Secretary Barbara Kelly, Treasurer Homer Hancock and members Lucia Guzman, Chen Ji, Bo Lee, Miguel In Suk Lovato, Mary Monzon, Florencio Palomo, Jim Peros, Gameh Rease and Beth Travis.  Program Liaisons are CIS Director Daniel Lutz, Ph.D. and faculty member Kirsten Gates.

For more information, please call Dianna Vigil at 303-394-9720, DVigil1031@aol.com or Melanie Grant, 303-778-6250, Mgrant7216@aol.com.