Nineteen California Students Awarded Verizon Foundation Scholarships

Nineteen California Students Awarded Verizon Foundation Scholarships

Company Awards Scholarships of Up to $20,000 to 250 Children of Verizon Employees across Country

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Paying for college just got easier for 19 children of Verizon employees in California. They have earned college scholarships from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications.

Each student will receive $5,000 annually toward his or her college expenses and is eligible to receive a maximum award of $20,000 throughout four years of college. The 19 students across California will receive up to $380,000 worth of scholarships for four years of college.

   This year's recipients are:    -- Lilia Calip of Modesto, a graduate of Thomas Downey High School and       daughter of employee Quinina Dimla, who plans to attend San Diego       State University.    -- Tristin Clark of Modesto, a graduate of Thomas Downey High School and       son of employee Suzette Clark, who plans to attend University of       California, Santa Barbara.    -- Justin Colquitt of Ventura, a graduate of Adolfo Camarillo High School       and son of employee Teresa Colquitt, who plans to attend San Diego       State University.    -- Tracy Empson of Lake Elsinore, a graduate of Temescal Canyon High       School and daughter of employee Wayne Empson, who plans to attend       American University in Washington, D.C.    -- Shanae Green of Moreno Valley, a graduate of Rancho Verde High School       and daughter of employee Bonnie Green, who plans to attend San Diego       Christian College.    -- Ashley Hernandez of Los Angeles, a graduate of St. Bernard High School       in Playa Del Rey and daughter of Raquel Padilla-Hernandez, who plans       to attend University of California, Santa Barbara.    -- Christina Hoang of Ontario, a graduate of Ontario High School and       daughter of employee Minh Hoang, who plans to attend University of       California, Irvine.    -- Lelani Isozaki of Torrance, a graduate of North High School and       daughter of employee Donald Isozaki, who plans to attend University of       California, Berkeley.    -- Evan Jaquias-Johnson of Camarillo, a graduate of Adolfo Camarillo High       School and son of employee William Johnson, who has not decided which       college to attend.    -- Justin Leon of Reseda, a graduate of Magnolia Science Academy and son       of employee Sandra Leon, who plans to attend San Jose State       University.    -- Samantha Mesuro of Los Angeles, a graduate of Santa Monica High School       and daughter of employee Jose Mesuro, who plans to attend Harvey Mudd       College.    -- Natalie Muller of Oxnard, a graduate of Oxnard High School and       daughter of employee Lori Davison, who plans to attend University of       California, Santa Cruz.    -- Megan Ryan of Windsor, a graduate of Windsor High School and daughter       of employee Daniel Ryan, who plans to attend Pepperdine University.    -- Matthew Wright of Pomona, a graduate of Lighthouse Baptist Academy in       La Verne and son of employee Gary Wright, who plans to attend Bob       Jones University in Greenville, S.C.    -- Amelia Barber of Williams, a graduate of Pierce High School in       Arbuckle and daughter of employee David Barber, who plans to attend       California State University, Sacramento.    -- Sharadha Naidu of Concord, a graduate of Northgate High School in       Walnut Creek and daughter of employee Surendra Naidu, who plans to       attend University of California, Davis.    -- Michael Ramirez of La Habra, a graduate of La Habra High School and       son of employee Roberta Benson, who plans to attend University of       California, Irvine.    -- Ajaypaul Singh of Antelope, a graduate of Center High School and son       of employee Jaswinder Singh, who plans to attend University of       California, Davis.    -- Thomas Strickland of Granite Bay, a graduate of Granite Bay High       School and son of employee Joe Strickland, who plans to attend       California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.   

Verizon's scholarship program selects recipients based on financial need, academic achievement and extracurricular activities. The scholarships are for high school seniors who plan to attend an accredited four-year institution.

Since 2001, more than 1,800 students from across the country have benefited from the scholarship program, which has invested more than $27.7 million toward the college education of children and dependents of Verizon employees. For the 2007-2008 academic year, the Verizon Foundation will invest approximately $4.8 million toward the education of 957 Verizon scholars, including 250 freshman and 707 upperclassmen.

"Our commitment to developing a skilled work force for the 21st century begins at home, with the children of our employees," said Tim McCallion, president of Verizon's West region. "Verizon proudly supports these students because we realize that an investment in their education is an investment in our future."

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.

A list of Verizon scholars is available on the Verizon Foundation Web site, at www.verizon.com/foundation.

The Verizon Foundation is committed to improving literacy and K-12 education; fostering awareness and prevention of domestic violence; and promoting the use of technology in health-care delivery. In 2006, the foundation awarded more than $69 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also matched charitable donations from Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $29 million in combined contributions. Under the foundation's Verizon Volunteer initiative, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteer programs, company employees and retirees have also contributed nearly 3 million hours of community service since Verizon's inception in 2000.

For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) , headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 60.7 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

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Source: Verizon

CONTACT: Jon Davies of Verizon, +1-805-372-6969, jon.davies@verizon.com

Web site: http://www.verizon.com/

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