Former Marine Named MSA's First Scholarship Recipient

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former Marine Captain Nathaniel Fick today received the first veterans' educational advancement scholarship established by Michael H. Seid and Associates, LLC (MSA) and administered by the International Franchise Association's Education Foundation. The Michael H. Seid and Associates Veterans Scholarship is awarded annually to U.S. military veterans enrolled in an entrepreneurial course of study at an accredited college or university.

Fick, who has been accepted in a joint-MBA program at Harvard Univ. to study international development, received the award during the opening of the 13th Annual International Franchise Expo at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. The event, which is sponsored by the International Franchise Association, is open to veterans at no charge.

Fick graduated with honors from Dartmouth in 1999 and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After the Sept. 11, 2001 attack, he led infantry platoons into combat in Afghanistan and commanded a special operations reconnaissance platoon in the Iraq war. In November, he received an honorable discharge after five years of service. Fick holds the Navy Commendation Medal and two Combat Action ribbons.

"Providing support to veterans is an important part of the IFA's mission", said Dick Rennick, CFE, Chairman, IFA Educational Foundation, and CEO of American Leak Detection. "We are glad that MSA chose to make this veterans' scholarship possible," said Dick Rennick.

"We have always strongly supported the mission of the IFA Education Foundation and this scholarship is a continuation of that support," said Michael Seid, founder and Managing Director of MSA. "We wanted to find a way through the foundation to show our gratitude for the sacrifices veterans have made for our country in a way similar to how franchisors are showing their support through the IFA's Vet Fran program." said Michael Seid.

"Franchising plays a key role in our nation's business environment" said Kay Marie Ainsley, Managing Director of MSA. Michael and Kay have both completed the requirements and have been awarded the designation of CFE (Certified Franchise Executive) by the IFA Education Foundation. "We see the importance of educating the next generation of franchise experts and many of today's returning veterans will be those future business leaders." said Kay Marie Ainsley