Peter Hankwitz Named Chair of California Student Aid Commission

Business Wire,  July 15, 2008  

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San Fernando Valley Businessman and Political Figure to Re-Focus State's Postsecondary Education Lending Efforts

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -- The California Student Aid Commission recently announced that it has elected Peter Hankwitz as Chair of the Commission for 2008-09. Hankwitz's election comes just five months after his appointment to the Commission by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Student Aid Commission is California's principal provider of State-administered federal and other financial aid to postsecondary students. The 15-member body is the designated student loan guaranty agency for California and closely oversees the activities of its non-profit loan services auxiliary, EdFund.

Hankwitz commented, "As Governor Schwarzenegger would agree, accessibility to higher education in today's economic climate is extremely challenging. Enrollment is surging at our post-secondary institutions, budgets are being trimmed, and students' financial resources are painfully stretched. As administrators of the Cal Grant Program, among others, we are obligated to take an innovative, comprehensive approach to the deployment of state and federal resources to help students achieve their higher educational goals. I am honored to work with the Governor, the Legislature and the Department of Finance in leading this effort."

Hankwitz, a Northridge resident who runs a production and management company in Reseda, is a leading political figure in the San Fernando Valley. In 2006 he was the Republican nominee for Congress from the 27th District. Currently he Chairs the Reseda Neighborhood Council and serves as the Western Regional Director for the Republican Leadership Council, a national, centrist political organization co-chaired by Christine Todd Whitman.

"My first priority is to re-focus the Commission on its core mission -- to make education beyond high school financially accessible to all Californians. With so many lenders slashing student aid programs, we must leverage our limited resources, and reach out more to Congress and the private sector," said Hankwitz.

Hankwitz is the founder of Peter Hankwitz Production & Management. He co-founded Starbar Entertainment, Reburn & Hankwitz Creative Agency, the Robert Urich Foundation for Cancer Research and Patient Care, and is a past community advocate for the Yucca Corridor Gang Abatement Project. He is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and The Next Generation Council of the Motion Picture & Television Fund.

No State funds were used in producing/distributing this release.

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