Five New Jersey Students Awarded Verizon Foundation Scholarships

NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- As the fall semester begins at colleges and universities across the nation, five New Jersey students will have some help paying their bills for school.  They are among 675 students nationwide who have received scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year through Verizon's scholarship program for the children and dependents of company employees.

The students will each receive $5,000 annually toward their college expenses. The scholarship program selects recipients based on financial need, academic achievement and extracurricular activities. Each scholarship is renewable for three years and has a total value of $20,000.

This year's New Jersey recipients are:

• Kimberly Edwards of Morristown, daughter of employee Martin Edwards, who plans to major in psychology/history at Elon College.
• Roselis Genao of Newark, daughter of employee Maria Morales, who plans to major in biology at Montclair State University.
• Alicia Greey of Berkeley Heights, daughter of employee Edward Greey, who plans to major in music education at Rutgers University.
• Chardai Lyde of Englewood, daughter of employee Rashida Rahim, who plans to major in health science at Northeastern University.
• Matthew Sheridan of Toms River, son of employee Cornelius Sheridan, who plans to major in accounting at Rider University.

Since 2001, the scholarship program has invested more than $39 million toward the college education of children and dependents of Verizon employees, benefitting 2,253 students. For the 2010-2011 academic year, the program will provide more than $3.3 million for scholarships for the 675 Verizon scholars.

"Education is a key issue for Verizon and our communities," said Dennis M. Bone, president of Verizon New Jersey. "Through this scholarship program, Verizon provides a tremendous benefit to our Verizon employees while also making a significant investment in the development of future leaders."

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.

"Verizon is clearly committed to helping students succeed through education," said Donald Lassere, senior vice president, Scholarship America. "With the skyrocketing cost of tuition, coupled with our struggling economy, generous renewable scholarships have never been more needed by students. Scholarship America is proud to administer the Verizon scholarship program."

A list of the Verizon scholars for 2010 is available on the Verizon Foundation website at http://foundation.verizon.com/about/press/scholstudents10.shtml

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational website, Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org), and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded $67.9 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $26.1 million in combined contributions to nonprofits.  Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 92 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon