Crowley funding dreams with scholarships awarded to college students in five Central American countries

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.; Sept. 9, 2009) Crowley's scholarship program continues to cross borders helping five new students in their respective Central American countries fund their educations and their dreams. Over the last month, Crowley has awarded scholarships to students in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras and El Salvador.

The scholarships are part of Crowley's commitment to provide educational opportunities to exemplary students with strong academic records and financial need. In Central America, the scholarships are awarded to one student in each country each year through graduation, bringing the total to 20 scholarship recipients to date. The scholarships are well-received, especially from students who come from very modest means.

University of Costa Rica student Yerlin Alvarez Monge was awarded a Crowley scholarship based on her community service activities with AIDS programs, youth volunteer groups, outstanding academic record and financial need. A native of Parrita, Puntarenas, a town located in the Pacific side of Costa Rica, Alvarez Monge plans to study Customs and Foreign Commerce.

Josseline Vanessa Leiva Flores, 18, the oldest of three siblings, was awarded the Crowley scholarship in Guatemala. She is studying business administration at the Universidad de San Carlos of Guatemala in Puerto Barrios, Izabal. A native of Livingston, Izabal in Guatemala, her goal is to become a manager for a company in Puerto Barrios or Santo Tomas de Castilla.

University of Panama student Yuritzel Ayleen Chiari Howard was awarded a Crowley scholarship. A Maritime Business Administration major at the University's Colon Regional Center, she is eldest of two siblings and lives with her mother.

Joel Isaac Hernandez Lanza, an accounting and finance major at the Universidad Autonoma of Honduras in Valle de Sula, was awarded a Crowley Scholarship. A native of the Colonia El Reparto Lempira at San Pedro Sula, he one of three siblings. Hernandez Lanza said he was honored to receive the scholarship and promised to work hard to take advantage of this special opportunity. One day he said he hopes to work for Crowley.

Marcelino Antonio Guarita Reyes, an accounting major at the Universidad Nacional of El Salvador, was also awarded a Crowley scholarship. A resident of the San Vicente area of El Salvador, Guarita Reyes lives with his mother and three siblings.

Crowley is committed to supporting educational efforts and we are pleased to be able to offer scholarships to these well-deserving students, said John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager for Crowley's Latin America liner group. Many of these students come from poverty-stricken regions of Central America and would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend or let alone pay for college. With offices throughout Central America, Crowley believes in investing in the future leaders of those countries.

The recent Crowley scholarships are part of Crowley's lengthy and ongoing commitment to education. Over the years, Crowley Chairman, President and CEO, Tom Crowley Jr., has directed the company to present scholarship dollars to deserving students at the maritime academies and other select institutions in the U.S., Caribbean and Central America in the name of his father Thomas B. Crowley Sr., who guided the company to extraordinary heights before passing away in 1994.

Since 1984, Crowley has provided more than half-a-million dollars in scholarship funding for nearly 200 students studying at maritime academies and other select institutions. In 2006, the program expanded to Central America and to date has provided financial assistance to approximately 20 students in that region. In 2010, Crowley will expand the program in Nicaragua.

Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 117-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company that provides diversified transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are the following services: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.