15 Massachusetts High School Graduates Awarded Verizon Foundation Scholarships

BOSTON - Fifteen Massachusetts high school graduates whose parents work for Verizon have received good news: They are among 933 students nationwide who have earned college scholarships from the Verizon Foundation.

These scholars will receive scholarships for the 2008-2009 academic year through Verizon's scholarship program for the children and dependents of company employees.  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.

This year's recipients are:

• Troy Barboza of Fall River, son of employee Marilyn Gosson, who plans to major in biology at Bridgewater State College.

• James Beggan III of Hull, son of employee James Beggan Jr., who plans to major in fashion design at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City.
• Alexandra Bosworth of North Dartmouth, daughter of employee Patricia Bosworth, who plans to major in sociology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
• Steven Burnham of Needham, son of employee John Burnham, who plans to attend Connecticut College.
• Yvonne Comoletti of Holbrook, daughter of employee Patricia Comoletti, who plans to major in pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
• John Cozza of Worcester, son of employee James Cozza, who plans to major in accounting at Coastal Carolina University Brown University.
• Katelyn Doherty of Malden, daughter of employee Steven Vidic, who plans to major in business at Bentley College.
• David Dreeszen of Revere, son of employee Steven Dreeszen, who plans to major in construction management at Wentworth Institute of Technology.
• Lindsay Emino of Marlborough, daughter of employee Reg Emino, who plans to major in communications at Quinnipiac University.
• Jaharra Lawson of Springfield, daughter of employee Lisa Lawson, who plans to major in liberal arts at Smith College.
• Kayla MacLeod of Merrimac, daughter of employee Barbara MacLeod, who plans to major in nursing at the University of Massachusetts at Boston.
• Meredith Malinn of Norwood, daughter of employee Mary Malinn, who plans to major in health science at the University of Connecticut.
• Miranda Ouelette of Groveland, daughter of employee Gary Ouelette, who plans to major in biology at Boston University.
• Jacquelyn West of Peabody, daughter of employee Anne-Marie West, who plans to major in liberal arts at Marymount Manhattan College.
• Erica Zajac of Turners Falls, daughter of employee Ann Nickerson, who plans to major in health at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

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 2,050 students from across the country have benefited from the scholarship program, which has invested almost $32.3 million toward the college education of children and dependents of Verizon employees.  For the 2008-2009 academic year, the Verizon Foundation will invest approximately $4.6 million toward the education of 933 Verizon scholars -- 250 freshmen and 683 upperclassmen.

"At Verizon, we pride ourselves in being a great place to work, but this scholarship program is more than a great benefit to our employees and their children," said Donna Cupelo, president of Verizon in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  "It's a significant investment in our future leaders and in the future of our communities."

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, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its signature program, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2007, the foundation awarded more than $67.4 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $25.1 million in combined contributions. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 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 more than 67 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 employed a diverse workforce of approximately 232,000 as of the end of the first quarter 2008 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

####