Education Celebrated at State Capitol as Comcast Awards $210,000 in College Scholarships to 190 California High School Seniors

Students from Madera and Oakley Win $10,000 Comcast Founders Scholarships While 20 Seniors Receive New Notebook Computers

Comcast's "Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program" Recognizes California Students For Leadership and Outstanding Commitment to Community Service

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Comcast

Jun 15, 2011, 05:28 ET

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

NOTE: Downloadable B-Roll footage of Comcast's education event will be available after 2:30 p.m. (PT) on Wednesday afternoon, June 15th, at this link http://comcastcalifornia.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=98.

While discussions of California’s budget problems and educational cuts were being debated inside the California State Capitol today, Comcast joined with more than 400 students and their families in a celebration of education on the steps of the building. Comcast announced the 190 California high school seniors who have won a 2011 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship, and then partnered with representatives of state legislators to present each student attendee with their individual $1,000 grant. Twenty of the winning students were also given a personal notebook computer to use at college, and Comcast distributed two additional $10,000 scholarships for a total of $210,000 in grants awarded at the special recognition ceremony.

In addition to their $1,000 scholarships, Axia Vang from Liberty High School in Madera and Jimmy Ramirez from Freedom High School in Oakley each won Comcast Founders Scholarships of $10,000 -- instituted in honor of Ralph J. Roberts, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Comcast Corporation. Axia Vang will be attending Fresno State University to study Medicine, while Jimmy Ramirez will study Political Science at Georgetown University.

The students and their families also received a tour of the State Capitol and complimentary admission to the California Museum. For a complete list of California’s 2011 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship recipients, visit: http://comcastcalifornia.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=458.

"Comcast is proud to acknowledge the accomplishment and potential of such outstanding student leaders, all of whom are preparing for the next step in their educational careers," said Curt Henninger, Regional Senior Vice President, Comcast – California. "The willingness of these students to play a leadership role in their communities, coupled with their academic achievement, has already put them on the path to success."

Each student who attended the celebration of education at the capitol received their $1,000 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship from their local legislators or Comcast executives, and then had a group photo taken with representatives of the legislators from the districts where scholarship winners live. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the 20 winners of the notebook computers and the two winners of the $10,000 Comcast Founders Scholarships were announced.

About the Comcast "Leaders And Achiever's® Scholarship Program"

This year in California, Comcast is recognizing 190 young people with scholarships -- for a total of $190,000 in grants — as part of Comcast's 2011 national Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program. Each student receives a one-time $1,000 grant.

The Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program, one of the Comcast Foundation's signature community investment programs, recognizes high school seniors for their leadership skills, positive attitude, academic achievement and various community service activities including mentoring and tutoring younger students, volunteering at hospitals and participating in relief efforts. The philosophy behind the program is to give young people every opportunity to be prepared for the future, to engage youth in their communities, and to demonstrate the importance of civic involvement, and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.

Since 2001, the program has recognized more than 15,000 students around the country—and given away more than $15.4 million in scholarship grants.

Each year, Comcast works with high school principals, guidance counselors and school administrators to select the scholarship recipients. The Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program is managed by Scholarship Program Administrators—an independent, not-for-profit organization that manages corporate and corporate foundation scholarship programs. For more information on the Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program, visit www.comcast.com/inthecommunity.

2011 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Winners from California

(by county and then by city where high school is located)

Alameda County

Albany- Portia Kane-Abdullah of Albany High School
Albany- Phobe Trout of MacGregor High School
Berkeley- Natassija Jordan-Oliver of California College Preparatory Academy
Dublin- Michelle Lee of Dublin High School
Fremont- Carmen Chan of Kennedy High School
Fremont- Megan McLaughlin of Mission San Jose High School
Fremont- Rajeswari Ramanathan of Irvington High School
Hayward- Alexander Bemiss of Moreau Catholic High School
Hayward- Julie Grant of Impact Academy
Hayward- Vishal Kapadia of Tennyson High School
Hayward- Alise Smith of Hayward High School
Livermore- Steven Lesky of Granada High School
Livermore- Kathyrn Rambo of Livermore High School
Oakland- Veronica Arelano of Lighthouse Community Charter High School
Oakland- Wiltyn Hoang of Skyline High School
Oakland- Devareaux Manley of Castlemont Leadership Preparatory High School
Oakland- Daysi Nemecio of American Indian Public High School
Oakland- Milan Scott of Oakland Military Institute College Prep Academy
Oakland- Irlenis Torres of Oakland Charter High School
Oakland- Yoanna Ventura of Aspire Millsmont Academy
Pleasanton- Lindsay Ford of Amador Valley High School
Pleasanton- Benjamin Krebs of Foothill High School
San Leandro- Rachel Ong of Chinese Christian Schools
Union City- Janet Leung of James Logan High School

Butte County

Durham- Peter Konyn of Durham High School
Oroville- Kue Chang of Oroville High School
Oroville- Michael Giordano of Las Plumas High School
Paradise- Lauryn Gregorio of Paradise Senior High School

Colusa County

Maxwell- Kendal Vierra of Maxwell High School

Contra Costa County

Brentwood- Edlyn Luichie Cotas of Heritage High School
Concord- Edward Estrada of De La Salle High School
Concord- Miranda Lutz of Clayton Valley High School
Concord- Teresa Perez of Crossroads High School
Crockett- Charles Williams of Willow High School
Danville- Christopher Riley of San Ramon Valley High
El Sobrante- Lovepreet Kaur of El Sobrante Christian High School
Oakley- Jimmy Ramirez of Freedom High School
Orinda- Joseph Sweiss of Miramonte High School
Pleasant Hill- Heather Dale of Horizons School
Pleasant Hill- Jamin Rodriguez of Prospect High School
San Ramon- Evan Bell of Dougherty High School
San Ramon- Evan O'Dorney of Venture Independent Study
Walnut Creek- Jonathan Lim of Berean Christian High School

El Dorado County

El Dorado- Daniel DeRosa of Union Mine High School
El Dorado Hills- Taja Davis of Oak Ridge High School
Placerville- Madalyn Hemingsen of El Dorado High School
Shingle Springs- Samantha Rains of Ponderosa High School

Fresno County

Clovis- Jillian Bertolucci of Clovis North High School
Clovis- Oshea Carter of Clovis East High School
Clovis- Josephine Doo of Buchanan High School
Clovis- Kelsy Mott of Clovis High School
Fresno- Jasmine Castro of Design Science Early College High School
Fresno- Ariel Garnica of Sierra Charter School
Fresno- Dulce Guerrero of Roosevelt High School
Reedley- Brett Parichan of Reedley High School
Reedley- Marisa Statton of Immanuel Schools

Glenn County

Orland- Janice Thor of Orland High School

Kings County

Hanford- Mallory Ehlers of Hanford High School

Madera County

Chowchilla- Rebecka Serpa of Chowchilla High School
Madera- Stephanie Jauregui of Madera High School
Madera- Axia Vang of Liberty High School

Marin County

Larkspur- Madison Kime of Redwood High School
Novato- Mary Welter of San Marin High School
San Anselmo- Nikita Romanzov of San Domenico High School
San Rafael- Elizabeth Cho of San Rafael High School
San Rafael- Kingsley Leung of Terra Linda High School
Sausalito- Derrick Ly of The Marin School

Merced County

Atwater- Nicolette Schiber of Atwater High School
Atwater- Cheyanne Young of Buhach Colony High School
Livingston- Kisha McGuire of Livingston High School
Merced- Anna Almario of Stone Ridge Christian High School
Merced- Katie Donnell of Golden Valley High School
Merced- Laura Gray of Merced High School

Monterey County

Carmel- Katherine Congleton of Carmel High School
Monterey- Kristen Flathers of Santa Catalina School
Monterey- Tio Lamiot of York School
Salinas- Ginger Faye Mina of Everett Alvarez High School
Salinas- Jennifer Silva of Alisal High School

Napa County

Napa- Gabriella Salva of Justin-Siena High School

Nevada County

Grass Valley- Ishan Hill of Ghidotti High
Grass Valley- Claire Newman of Bear River High School
Grass Valley- Mark Valentine of Nevada Union High School
Penn Valley- Rachel Frantz of Vantage Point Charter

Placer County

Roseville- Micky DeFiebre of Valley Christian Academy
Roseville- Jake Haakenson of Woodcreek High School

Sacramento County

Carmichael- Veronica Tello of Visions in Education
Citrus Heights- Logan Day of New San Juan High School
Elk Grove- Carisse Platt of Pleasant Grove High School
Elk Grove- Claire Elizabeth of Laguna Creek High School
Fair Oaks- Conner Quinn of Bella Vista High School
Folsom- Jennifer Arbaugh of Vista del Lago High School
Folsom- Disha Chaubey of Folsom High School
Galt- Christine Schmidt of Galt Joint Union High School
North Highlands- Eduard Litvinov of Highlands High School
North Highlands- Alla Polyakov of Futures High School
Rancho Cordova- Ashley Stidham of Cordova High School
Sacramento- Danyelle Mitchell of Rosemont High School
Sacramento- Susan Saeteurn of Hiram W. Johnson High School - West Campus
Sacramento- Alexis Smith of Sacramento Charter High School
Sacramento- Taylor Whited of Capital Christian School

San Francisco County

San Francisco- Anthony Bonilla of Phillip and Sala Burton Academic High
San Francisco- Rene Cardiel of Archbishop Riordan High School
San Francisco- Wanarsa Chantara of Balboa High School
San Francisco- Simone Gannage of Lycee Francais La Perouse
San Francisco- Margaret Hardy of Lick-Wilmerding High School
San Francisco- Diane Lee of Galileo High School
San Francisco- Chloe Lessard of Mercy High School
San Francisco- Fiona Mischel of San Francisco Waldorf High School

San Joaquin County

Linden- Catharine Knapp of Linden High School
Lodi- Alexander Bluhm of Tokay High School
Lodi- Isabel Rangel of Lodi High School
Lodi- Grace Romstad Lodi Academy
Manteca- Joseph Brandi of Manteca High School
Manteca- Tonya Towner of Sierra High School
Stockton- Armir Camangian of Bear Creek High School
Stockton- Samantha Martinez of Ronald E. McNair High School
Stockton- Gabrielle Reyes of Lincoln High School
Tracy- Brittny Davis of Merrill F. West High School

San Mateo County

Atherton- Sean Higgins of Menlo-Atherton High School
Atherton- Nancy Orocio of Sacred Heart Preparatory
Burlingame- Matthew Thompson of Burlingame High School
Daly City- Kalani Sanders of Westmoor High School
East Palo Alto- Roshana Smith- Eastside College Preparatory School
Millbrae- Matthew Shen of Mills High School
Pacifica- Matthew Philpott of Alma Heights Christian Academy
San Bruno- Chizoba Ibeanusi of Capuchino High School
San Mateo- Thomas Barri of Junipero Serra High School
San Mateo- Hannah Chu of Alpha Beacon Christian School
San Mateo- Mariko Kuga of Hillsdale High School
San Mateo- Catherine Parmele of San Mateo High School
San Mateo- Amrit Saxena of Aragon High School
South San Francisco- Kevin Madrigal of El Camino High School

Santa Barbara County

Lompoc- Hunter Reardon of Cabrillo High School
Santa Maria- Katherine Brown of Pioneer Valley High School
Santa Maria- Griffin Hall of Santa Maria High School
Santa Maria- Tatianna Kufferath of Ernest Righetti High School
Santa Ynez- Nicholas Kennedy of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School

Santa Clara County

Cupertino- Daniel Ki of Monta Vista High School
Cupertino- Vanni Mulkareddy of Cupertino High School
Los Altos- Tyler Stout of Los Altos High School
Palo Alto- Grace Chen of Castelleja High School
San Jose- Samya Abdela of silver Creek High School
San Jose- Natalie Audelo of Presentation High School
San Jose- Nick Ben of Gunderson High School
San Jose- John Castle of Bellarmine College Preparatory School
San Jose- Keziah Dauz of Overfelt High School
San Jose- Tara Deasy of Oak Grove High School
San Jose- Megan Gage of Evergreen Valley High School
San Jose- Conner Gorman of Archbishop Mitty High School
San Jose- Iris Hernandez of Pegasus High School
San Jose- Tina Huang of Independence High School
San Jose- MyMy Nguyen of Piedmont Hills High School
San Jose- Mitzen San Juan of Downtown College Prep
San Jose- Anthony Santilli of Leigh High School
San Jose- Karina Soto of Mt. Pleasant High School
San Jose- Nicholas Taxera of Del Mar High School
Santa Clara – Sean Oswald of Santa Clara High School
Saratoga- Jaemyeong Lee of Saratoga High School
Sunnyvale- David Bruce of The Kings Academy
Sunnyvale- Thaibinh Lai-Nguyen of Fremont High School

Santa Cruz County

Felton- Nathon Wood of San Lorenzo Valley High School
Santa Cruz- Damon Kamamoto of Pacific Collegiate Charter
Scotts Valley- Alyson Bothman of Scotts Valley High School

Solano County

Vacaville- Elizabeth Fazzare of Vacaville High School
Vacaville- Wesley LaRowe of Buckingham Charter Magnet High School
Vallejo- Ahy Khine of St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School

Sonoma County

Cloverdale- Austin Schmidt of Cloverdale High School
Forestville- Elizabeth Fox of El Molino High School
Petaluma- Suzanne McNamara of Casa Grande Senior High School
Petaluma- Laura Smith of Petaluma High School
Petaluma- Nicole Thompson of St. Vincent High School
Santa Rosa- Janice Castro of Roseland University Prep
Santa Rosa- Bethany Codding of Ursuline High School
Santa Rosa- Rebecca Hildebrant of Rincon Valley Christian School
Sonoma- Carlos Velasquez of Archbishop Hanna High School

Stanislaus County

Modesto- Megan Carley of Thomas Downey High School
Modesto- Anna Do of Fred C. Beyer High School
Modesto- Kyle Sharp of Modesto High School
Newman- Janae Grieb of Orestimba High School
Oakdale- Daniel Dunning of Oakdale High School

Sutter County

Sutter- Allison Foster of Sutter High School
Yuba City- Justine Ekdawy of Faith Christian High School

Tehama County

Corning- Adalia Burrel of Centennial Continuation High School
Corning- Anna Nelson of Corning High School

Tulare County

Visalia- Micaela Bonner of Redwood High School
Visalia- Annalee Bosler of Central Valley Christian High School
Visalia- Cristina Chavez Duarte of Golden West High School

Tuolumne County

Tuolumne- Allison Loyd of Summerville High School

Yuba County

Marysville- Kelsey Cena of Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts
Olivehurst- Bao Her of Lindhurst High School

About the Comcast Foundation

The Comcast Foundation began in June 1999. Since that time, the Foundation has given more than $77 million to non-profit organizations serving the same communities we serve nationwide. The Foundation has reached nearly 3,000 unique organizations in nearly 2,000 communities. We provide financial support to organizations that have a strong presence in our communities and match our dedication to expanding digital literacy, promoting community service and building tomorrow's leaders. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/inthecommunity.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.

SOURCE Comcast