US Airways Awards Record $455,000 In College Scholarships To Children Of Employees, Retirees

TEMPE, Ariz., June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- US Airways (NYSE: LCC) awarded $455,000 in college scholarships to 130 children of employees and retirees yesterday at a reception in Phoenix. The US Airways Education Foundation has previously awarded $2,500 college scholarships but last night the students learned they would receive $3,500 due to record fundraising done by the Foundation last year.

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More than 325 students applied for the scholarships and a committee comprised of educators and community leaders carefully reviewed each application. Applicants were scored on academic achievement, leadership, awards and honors, community service and volunteerism, work commitment, financial need and memberships or affiliations. The committee also reviewed applicants' essays and letters of recommendation.

"Taking care of our employees also means helping to take care of their children. By assisting with the higher education of those children, we're supporting the continuing education of tomorrow's leaders in the communities we serve," said Elise Eberwein, executive vice president of People, Communications and Public Affairs for US Airways "Like their parents, who work or have worked as US Airways' crewmembers, mechanics, customer service and fleet service representatives or in corporate support functions, we, too, are extremely proud of this year's recipients."

Recipients of the 2013 US Airways Education Foundation scholarship will be attending universities all across the country, and include:

• 46 students from the Charlotte, N.C. area,
• 28 recipients from Phoenix,
• 11 students from Philadelphia and
• Five recipients from Washington, D.C.

These four cities serve as the airline's hubs, where the majority of employees live and work. Another 26 students who reside in 18 different cities across US Airways' network also received scholarships. In addition, 35 of the 2013 recipients are repeat recipients and three recipients are receiving this scholarship for the fourth consecutive year.

This year's group has an average cumulative G.P.A. of 3.71 and is comprised of class valedictorians, award-winning musicians, academic all-state athletes and community volunteers who have served the Boys and Girls Club, Special Olympics and the American Cancer Society.

Since 1992, the US Airways Education Foundation has awarded nearly $4.6 million in scholarships to dependents of US Airways employees as well as grants to nonprofit organizations that support children's educational programs. The Foundation is funded entirely by fundraising events and donations.

About US Airways

US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,100 flights per day and serves 198 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide, operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus aircraft and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 21,900 daily flights to 1,328 airports in 195 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance magazine presented US Airways with the 2012 Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of the Year Award for demonstrating outstanding achievement and innovation in the area of technical operations. Military Times Edge magazine named US Airways as a Best for Vets employer for the past three years. US Airways was, for the third year in a row, the only airline included as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine's 50 Report. The airline also earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index for six consecutive years. The Corporate Equality index is a leading indicator of companies' attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. For more company information visit usairways.com, follow on Twitter @USAirways or at Facebook.com/USAirways. (LCCG)

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SOURCE US Airways