IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, MD - June 04, 2010 - Dr. Mark D. Turner (Ph.D. ’96) and his wife, Tracye have established an endowed scholarship to support undergraduate economics students at the University of Maryland who have demonstrated service and leadership. Deserving students of this scholarship will be selected based on their commitment to improve society as a whole through the improvement of minority communities. The Turners’ dedication to the Department of Economics, as well as Dr. and Mrs. Turner’s affection for the University of Maryland community, inspired them to create this merit scholarship award.

Dr. Turner, who earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Maryland, provided the keynote address for the Department of Economics’ Spring 2010 Commencement. Dr. and Mrs. Turner own and operate Optimal Solutions Group, LLC (Optimal), a nonpartisan, public policy research firm. Optimal, which is located at M Square Research Park in College Park, Maryland, employs several UMD alumni and current students.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Founded in 2000, Optimal Solutions Group, LLC is a non-partisan public policy research firm dedicated to rigorous and evidence-based research. Optimal's clients are local, state, and federal governments; non-governmental organizations; and corporations and foundations. Located in the M Square Research Park, Optimal has grown quickly by building on a reputation of exceptional services and products. Our clients benefit from our innovations, value, and efficiency, which we have been able to establish through a robust technology-based infrastructure, uncompromising and documented quality-control procedures, and effective employee recruitment techniques. Optimal has four research centers: health, education, workforce development, and housing.

For more information, please contact Optimal's Communications Department at 301.306.1170 or info@optimalsolutionsgroup.com.