Comcast Provides $200,000 In College Scholarships To 180 California High School Seniors

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SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- While discussions of California's budget problems and educational cuts were being debated inside the California State Capitol today, Comcast joined with hundreds of students and their families in a celebration of education on the steps of the building.  Comcast announced the 180 California high school seniors who have won a 2012 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship, and then presented each student attendee with their individual $1,000 grant.  Twenty-five 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 $200,000 in grants awarded at the special recognition ceremony.

In addition to their $1,000 scholarships, Taylor Wilkins of Vallejo from the Oakland Military Institute and Gabrielle Calderon from Golden Valley High School in Merced each won Comcast Founders Scholarships of $10,000 -- instituted in honor of Ralph J. Roberts, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Comcast Corporation.  Taylor Wilkins will be attending Sacramento State University to study Criminal Justice, while Gabrielle Calderon will study Political Science at UC Berkeley.

The students and their families also received a tour of the State Capitol and complimentary admission to a Sacramento River Cats baseball game.  For a complete list of California's 2012 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship recipients, visit: http://comcastcalifornia.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=591.

"In these challenging economic times, California's students need all the help they can get to keep the cost of college within reach," said Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. "These scholarships are a great example of what can happen when we work together to brighten the future of our entire state."

"Each year, we are excited to provide scholarships for these talented students," said Curt Henninger, Regional Senior Vice President of Comcast California.  "Comcast seeks students who demonstrate leadership abilities in school activities and who reflect a strong commitment to community service.  These students are our future leaders, and we hope these scholarships will help to power their dreams for 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.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, the 25 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"
The Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program, one of the Comcast Foundation's signature community investment programs, recognizes high school seniors who strive to achieve their potential, who are catalysts for positive change in their communities, who are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students. The philosophy behind the program is to give young people every opportunity to prepare for the future and to engage them in their communities. The program also demonstrates the importance of civic involvement, and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.

Since 2001, the program has recognized more than 17,000 students around the country—and given away more than $17 million in scholarship grants.  Connect with the scholarship winners at www.facebook.com/ComcastLeadersandAchievers. Explore and "like" Comcast in the community at www.facebook.com/WePowerDreams.

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.

About the Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities.  The Foundation has three community investment priorities—promoting community service, expanding digital literacy and building tomorrow's leaders.  Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $90 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves.  More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.

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 Corporation