SOUTHFIELD, Mich. –- In recognition of its efforts to foster diversity, the General Motors Minority Dealers Assn. (GMMDA) presented its 2004 Diversity Award to General Motors Corp. The award was received by Robert Lutz, GM vice chairman of product development and chairman of GM North America, at the association's annual banquet in Las Vegas.

GMMDA President Gregory Jackson made special mention of GM's support of affirmative action policies at the University of Michigan, as well as an initiative to attain 15% minority representation among dealers.

"We're honored to receive this award because diversity is an important element of GM's business," Lutz said. "And we congratulated the GMMDA for its generous support of young people and for rewarding youth for hard work and dedication to learning. We also commend the association for its commitment to GM minority dealers and for its many initiatives in support of our dealers."

The ceremony, titled "Celebrating 15 Years of Excellence: Making Educational Dreams True," also included the distribution of 17 $2,500 scholarships to minority youth.