---

World-Renowned Auto Designer Provides Motivation, Financial Support for Local Students

17 March 1998

World-Renowned Auto Designer Provides Motivation, Financial Support for Local Students

   Nissan Executive Emphasizes 'Creative Priority' at Duke Ellington School

    WASHINGTON, March 17 -- Jerry Hirshberg, president of Nissan
Design International (NDI) -- and a legendary automotive designer -- brought
his innovative philosophy east to the nation's capital today, sharing his
creative doctrine with students at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
    Hirshberg took a chapter from his new book The Creative Priority: Driving
Innovative Business in the Real World and told the students to "unleash their
creativity" in every aspect of pursuing careers and dreams.  He further
demonstrated Nissan's commitment to the designers of tomorrow with a $2,500
donation to help buy educational materials and equipment for the school's art
and theatre departments.
    As founder and president of NDI, Hirshberg is world-renowned for his
devotion to creative and innovative thinking in business and in life.  He
expounds upon these unique approaches in The Creative Priority, which was
recently published.
    Hirshberg speaks from a great deal of experience since his varied creative
career encompasses stints as both a classical clarinet player -- as a youth in
Cleveland -- and, during college, he was a rock singer with the stage name
Jerry Paul in a band that was the opening act for Bobby Rydell, Fabian,
Frankie Avalon and others.
    The NDI facility he manages in La Jolla, Calif. -- though primarily
devoted to automotive design -- has contributed to the development of other
non-automotive products, including golf clubs, children's pre-school furniture
and a yacht.
    "It's always a privilege to plant philosophical seeds and reinforce the
notion of creativity throughout our lives, especially to a group of very
talented young people," Hirshberg said.  "In addition, I'm delighted that
Nissan could provide funding to help this renowned institution as it continues
to play a key role in developing some of our future creators and innovators."
    An award winning public high school in the District of Columbia, The Duke
Ellington School of the Arts has received the prestigious Blue Ribbon of
Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education.
    "People tend to think of auto manufacturing in terms of standard assembly
lines," said Donal Leace of the Ellington School.  "Mr. Hirshberg opened our
eyes as to how creativity extends from vehicle design to every aspect of
life."
    The event was part of the Nissan Neighbors program, a corporate-wide
umbrella for Nissan's corporate giving, which was created to demonstrate
Nissan's commitment to giving back to the many communities in which it
operates nationwide.
    "We chose the Duke Ellington School because of its success in developing
creative minds in an academic setting," said Tim MacCarthy, VP of Government
Affairs, Nissan North America.  "The school promotes Jerry's principles and
implements them very successfully."
    Nissan employs 12,000 Americans directly and another 61,000 Americans who
work at Nissan and Infiniti dealerships.  Nissan has invested more than $2
billion in the United States to build facilities for design, research and
development, manufacturing, sales and related operations.  Nearly 70 percent
of the Nissan cars and trucks sold in America are built in America.
Additionally, Nissan purchases over $4.2 billion in parts and materials from
over 1,000 U.S. suppliers annually.

SOURCE  Nissan