Three talented university graduate professionals were presented with the 2010 Andras Felkai Academic Award, a scholarship of HUF 400 thousand, in an award ceremony on 12 July, 2010. Balazs Kleeberg, who graduated at the Szent Istvan University, Krisztina Orban, who graduated at the Corvinus University of Budapest and Orsolya Varjan-Bajko holding a degree from the University of West Hungary will use the funds to sponsor their postgraduate studies in the field of economics and finance.

Balazs Kleeberg, one of this year's awardees said at the award ceremony, "An increasing number of university students and graduates are becoming aware of the annual Andras Felkai Award program, and I hear that the number of applications is growing every year. I am very pleased to have the judging committee supporting my application and I will use the funds to sponsor my one-year EU Structural Funds Management studies in the Netherlands. The program will commence this September and it will allow me to develop new competences and gain knowledge and skills in the field of EU tenders, project management and lobbying activity as well as project control and reporting, that will certainly help me to enhance my career opportunities and perspectives."

Batara Sianturi, Citi Country Officer for Hungary said, "This is an important program that provides an opportunity to supporting the postgraduate studies and study trips of talented university students and young professionals. Through this Award, Citibank hopes to contribute to the enrichment of the Hungarian economic and financial sector with highly qualified professionals who display personal qualities similar to those of Andras Felkai including his open-minded, positive attitude, competence, leadership and international outlook."

In March 2002 Citibank Hungary, together with the Foundation for Developing Financial Culture nonprofit organization, co-founded the Andras Felkai Academic Award as a tribute to Andras Felkai, a highly trained professional and a prominent and respected member of the Hungarian financial sector, who passed away in a tragic accident. Beside Citibank Hungary, the family of Andras Felkai, several financial institutions and individual donors have also contributed to the fund.

The annual award, which is paid from the interest of the fund, supports the studies of talented students and young professionals selected by the judging committee from the applicants based on developed evaluation criteria.

Since its foundation the Andras Felkai Academic Award Fund has supported further studies of altogether 14 young professionals.

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Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.

Foundation for Developing Financial Culture
The foundation was established by the International Training Center for Bankers (ITCB), the Ministry of Finance, the National Bank of Hungary and the Hungarian Banking Association in 1991. Through its various public benefit activities and programs the foundation supports the development of academic work, research, education and training in the field of finance and is committed to the European integration process.