AXA and Sciences Po Launch Henri de Castries Scholarship

AXA in the United States, a leader in providing life insurance and annuity products, and Sciences Po, France’s leading university in the social sciences, today announced the Henri de Castries Scholarship, a new merit-based scholarship for students studying in a dual-country Bachelor of Arts program connecting France and America.

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The scholarship is named for Henri de Castries, Chairman and CEO of AXA Group. It builds on De Castries’ and AXA’s long standing commitment to promoting and strengthening the cultural connections of the American and French people. De Castries is an alumnus of the French-American Young Leaders program and was awarded the “California Gold Award” in 2001 by the French-American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles, recognizing leaders whose vision and dedication foster French-American business relations.

“AXA is proud to announce the Henri de Castries Scholarship and provide students with the opportunity to gain an international perspective through a multicultural learning experience,” said Mark Pearson, director, president, and CEO of AXA Financial. “We are excited to honor Henri’s legacy as AXA’s outgoing CEO and strengthen French-American ties while helping to train the future leaders of our increasingly globalized world.”

The $260,000 donation, endowed by AXA in the US to the US Sciences Po Foundation, will provide students with an annual scholarship of $10,000. Students enrolling in either of the dual bachelor’s degree programs at Sciences Po-Columbia University or Sciences Po-University of California, Berkeley may apply for the Henri de Castries Scholarship.

Sciences Po is a world-class university driven forward by its international dimension for more than 140 years. It partners with 470 universities, including 80 American universities, and offers its students 43 dual degree programs, including two dual Bachelor’s degree programs with Berkeley and Columbia. Both programs include two years of study at a Sciences Po campus in France, followed by two years of study at the Columbia or Berkeley campuses.

“Alongside AXA, we are very pleased to offer students of all origins the opportunity to take part in an outstanding academic and cross-cultural experience in France and in the USA. This scholarship will help reinforce our commitment to diversity and complete Sciences Po’s array of financial aid for students,” said Francis Vérillaud, Vice President of Sciences Po.

The first Henri de Castries Scholarship will be awarded in 2017 and will continue to be offered on an annual basis. For more information on eligibility, application and selection process, visit http://formation.sciences-po.fr/en/contenu/the-henri-castries-scholarship.

About AXA

“AXA” (also referred to as “AXA US”) is a brand name of AXA Equitable Financial Services, LLC and its family of companies, including AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY), MONY Life Insurance Company of America (AZ stock company, administrative office: Jersey City, NJ), AXA Advisors, LLC, and AXA Distributors, LLC. In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company is a leading financial protection company and one of the nation’s premier providers of life insurance and annuity products distributed to individuals and business owners through its retail distribution channel, AXA Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) and to the financial services market through its wholesale distribution channel, AXA Distributors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC)

AXA S.A. (also referred to as “AXA Group”) is a Paris-headquartered holding company for a group of international insurance and financial services companies, including AXA Equitable Financial Services, LLC companies. AXA S.A. is a worldwide leader in financial protection strategies and wealth management with 103 million clients in 64 countries as of Dec. 31, 2015. AXA S.A. has been ranked the No. 1 insurance brand in the world by Interbrand for seven consecutive years as of Oct. 5, 2015.

The obligations of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company and MONY Life Insurance Company of America are backed solely by their claims-paying ability. Find AXA on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. For more information, visit www.axa.com.

About Sciences Po

Founded in 1872, Sciences Po is France’s leading research university in the social sciences. Sciences Po offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate and executive education levels, and 43 dual degree programmes with its network of 470 partner universities.

Today, half of Sciences Po’s 13,000 students are international and represent 150 nationalities. Education at Sciences Po is multidisciplinary, multilingual and outward looking. It also places great emphasis on professional exposure. Following completion of their degree, 87% of graduates are hired within six months of graduation and 38% start their career abroad. Sciences Po sets a high standard for social responsibility, and plays a pioneering role in the promotion of diversity and equal opportunity in higher education. Sciences Po has an array of financial aid for students of all origins, and 30% of the student body hold a scholarship. For more information on Sciences Po: www.sciencespo.fr/en

About US Sciences Po Foundation

Established in 2009, the US Sciences Po Foundation is a Delaware-based 501 (c) (3) organization the purpose of which is to increase awareness of Sciences Po in the United States, and thereby cultivate a U.S.-based platform of philanthropic support.

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