IRVING, Texas, May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Paying for college just got easier for 30 Texas children of Verizon employees who have earned college scholarships from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. Eleven of the winners are from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
The students will each receive $5,000 annually toward their college expenses and are eligible to receive a maximum award of $20,000 throughout four years of college.
This year's recipients are:
* Art Arteaga of San Angelo, a graduate of Central High School and son of
Maria Arteaga. Arteaga plans to attend Angelo State University and
major in pharmacy.
* Brittany Avant of Gonzales, a graduate of Gonzales High School and
daughter of Robert Avant. Avant plans to attend Texas State University-
San Marcos and pursue a career as an ultrasound technician.
* Eugene Baek of Richardson, a graduate of Berkner High School and son of
Jung Baek. Baek plans to attend Vanderbilt University and major in
economics.
* John Barton of Wylie, a graduate of Wylie High School and son of John
Barton. Barton plans to attend East Texas Baptist University and major
in history and religion.
* Donesha Bell of Lancaster, a graduate of Skyline High School and
daughter of Sharunda Kuykendall. Bell plans to attend the University of
Texas at Austin and major in business finance.
* Tiffani Burgess of Bedford, a graduate of Trinity High School and
daughter of Kevin Caddell. Burgess plans to attend Cornell University
and major in biomedical engineering.
* Jared Caddell of Como, a graduate of Como Pickton High School and son of
Jerry Caddell. Caddell plans to attend Texas A&M University-Commerce
and major in engineering.
* Jessica De Hoyos of San Angelo, a graduate of Lake View High School and
daughter of Magdalena Davis. De Hoyos plans to attend Angelo State
University and major in computer science.
* Hai Dinh of Katy, a graduate of Mayde Creek High School and daughter of
Minh Pham. Dinh plans to attend the University of Houston and major in
dentistry.
* Kristina Garrison of Terrell, a graduate of Terrell High School and
daughter of Lora Garrison. Garrison plans to attend the University of
Texas at Arlington and major in biology.
* Joel Garza Jr. of Rio Grande City, a graduate of Roma High School and
son of Joel Garza. Garza plans to attend the University of Texas at
Austin and major in chemistry.
* Darcy Hair of San Angelo, a graduate of Central High School and daughter
of Colleen Hair. Hair plans to attend Angelo State University and major
in education.
* Matthew Hejl of San Angelo, a graduate of Wall High School and son of
Judy Hejl. Hejl plans to attend San Angelo State University and major
in communications.
* Alexis Hunter of Lewisville, a graduate of Lewisville High School and
daughter of Sansulan Pine. Lawson plans to attend the University of
Oklahoma and major in medicine.
* Christina King of Wylie, a graduate of Wylie High School and daughter of
Diana King. King plans to attend Texas A&M University and major in
biomedical science.
* Briley Leggett of San Angelo, a graduate of Wall High School and
daughter of Mary Lewis. Leggett plans to attend Texas A&M University
and major in poultry science.
* Michael Markham of San Angelo, a graduate of Central High School and son
of Thomas Guthrie. Markham plans to attend Angelo State University and
major in medicine.
* Samantha Martinez of San Antonio, a graduate of Douglas MacArthur High
School and daughter of Robert Torres. Martinez plans to attend the
University of Texas at San Antonio and major in journalism.
* Phillip Morrow of Denton, a graduate of Billy Ryan High School and son
of Phillip Morrow. Morrow plans to attend Texas A&M University and
major in architecture.
* John Payne of Ozona, a graduate of Ozona High School and son of Leticia
Payne. Payne plans to attend Angelo State University and major in
education.
* Troy Peoples of Duncanville, a graduate of Duncanville High School and
son of Damita Peoples. Peoples plans to attend the University of
Houston and major in archaeology.
* Amanda Pullen of Denton, a graduate of John H. Guyer High School and
daughter of Cathy Pullen. Pullen plans to attend the University of
North Texas and major in psychology.
* Kristin Ranard of San Angelo, a graduate of Central High School and
daughter of Kelly Ranard. Ranard plans to attend Angelo State
University and major in journalism.
* Michelle Ruiz of San Angelo, a graduate of Lake View High School and
daughter of Willie Ruiz. Ruiz plans to attend Angelo State University
and major in education.
* Jessica Rush of Sachse, a graduate of Garland High School and daughter
of Johnny Rush. Rush plans to attend Texas Tech University and major in
journalism.
* Mariam Sattar of Sugar Land, a graduate of DeBakey High School for
Health Professionals and daughter of Bilal Sattar. Sattar plans to
attend the University of Houston and major in pre-medicine.
* Samuel Turner of Jacksboro, a graduate of Jacksboro High School and son
of Deanna Gilbert. Turner plans to attend Tarleton State University and
major in business.
* Ashley Walker of Houston, a graduate of Elsik High School and daughter
of Shirron Walker. Walker plans to attend the University of Oklahoma
and major in medicine.
* Kiara Warfield of Dallas, a graduate of Plano East Senior High School
and daughter of India Warfield. Warfield plans to attend Sam Houston
State University and major in accounting.
* Kerry West of Canton, a graduate of Canton High School and daughter of
David West. West plans to attend Dallas Baptist University and major in
music business.
Verizon's scholarship program selects recipients based on financial need, academic achievement and extracurricular activities. The scholarships are for high school seniors who plan to attend an accredited four-year institution.
Since 2001, more than 1,800 students from across the country have benefited from the scholarship program, which has invested more than $27.7 million toward the college education of children and dependents of Verizon employees. For the 2007-2008 academic year, the Verizon Foundation will invest approximately $4.8 million toward the education of 957 Verizon scholars, including 250 freshman and 707 upperclassmen.
"Verizon's long-standing commitment to developing a skilled work force begins at home, with the children of our employees," said Steve Banta, Verizon Southwest region president. "Verizon proudly supports and congratulates these students and realizes that an investment in their education is an investment in our future."
The Verizon Foundation awards the scholarships in partnership with Scholarship America, the nation's largest nonprofit, private sector scholarship and educational support organization, which was founded in 1958.
A list of Verizon scholars is available on the Verizon Foundation Web site, at http://www.verizon.com/foundation.
The Verizon Foundation is committed to improving literacy and K-12 education; fostering awareness and prevention of domestic violence; and promoting the use of technology in health-care delivery.
In 2006, the foundation awarded more than $69 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also matched charitable donations from Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $29 million in combined contributions. Under the foundation's Verizon Volunteer initiative, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteer programs, company employees and retirees also have contributed nearly 3 million hours of community service since Verizon's inception in 2000.
For more information on the foundation, visit http://www.verizon.com/foundation.
Verizon Communications Inc. , headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 60.7 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion. For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com/.
VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at http://www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.
