One of the country's Big Three automakers is providing educational funding to Little Rock's Clinton School of Public Service.

Ford Motor Company joined the school today in announcing the creation of the Ford Motor Company Community Fellowship, a $20,000 full scholarship that will support the education of a future Clinton School student.

The Ford Fellowship will be awarded to a Clinton School student who enrolls in the program in 2010 and who has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills in his or her community.

The fellowship will cover a student’s full tuition for the two-year Master of Public Service degree program, as well as the costs of the student’s International Public Service project, one of three for-credit projects completed during the program.

“This unique partnership to create the Ford Motor Company Community Fellowship showcases our company’s commitment to creating opportunities in leadership that are tied to making a difference in the community, ” said Jim Vella, president of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “We are excited to partner with the Clinton School to promote public service and to develop future leaders in this important undertaking.”

The partnership between the Clinton School and Ford began when Vella participated in the school’s speaker series in June.

“We are grateful to Ford Motor Company for this gift and look forward to awarding the Ford Fellowship,” said Skip Rutherford, dean of the school. “Through this gift and numerous other efforts, Ford shows it is a company that has a true commitment to public service."

Click here for more information about the Clinton School of Public Service.