Four Maryland Students Awarded Verizon Foundation Scholarships

BALTIMORE, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Paying for college just got easier for four Maryland students.  They are among 675 students nationwide who 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 Maryland recipients are:

• Jermia N. Dix of Catonsville, who plans to attend Stevenson University and is the daughter of employee Veronica Dix.
• Janice B. Lin of Columbia, who plans to attend the University of Maryland College Park and is the daughter of employee Woei Lin.
• Sarah E. Roy of Hebron, who plans to attend Washington College and is the daughter of Patrick Roy.
• Alexandra L. Vega of Highland, who plans to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is the daughter of Sandra Vega.

Since 2001, the scholarship program has invested more than $39 million toward the college education of children and dependents of Verizon employees, benefiting 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 William R. Roberts, Verizon's president in Maryland and Washington, D.C.  "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.

Donald Lassere, senior vice president of Scholarship America, said, "Verizon is clearly committed to helping students succeed through education.  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