30 Texas Students Awarded Verizon Foundation Scholarships

IRVING, Texas - Paying for college just got easier for 30 Texas children of Verizon employees who have earned college scholarships from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications.  Eleven of the winners are from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

The students will each receive $5,000 annually toward their college expenses and are eligible to receive a maximum award of $20,000 throughout four years of college.

This year's recipients are:

• Art Arteaga of San Angelo, a graduate of Central High School and son of Maria Arteaga.  Arteaga plans to attend Angelo State University and major in pharmacy.

• Brittany Avant of Gonzales, a graduate of Gonzales High School and daughter of Robert Avant.  Avant plans to attend Texas State University-San Marcos and pursue a career as an ultrasound technician.
• Eugene Baek of Richardson, a graduate of Berkner High School and son of Jung Baek.  Baek plans to attend Vanderbilt University and major in economics.
• John Barton of Wylie, a graduate of Wylie High School and son of John Barton.  Barton plans to attend East Texas Baptist University and major in history and religion.
• Donesha Bell of Lancaster, a graduate of Skyline High School and daughter of Sharunda Kuykendall.  Bell plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin and major in business finance.
• Tiffani Burgess of Bedford, a graduate of Trinity High School and daughter of Kevin Caddell.  Burgess plans to attend Cornell University and major in biomedical engineering.
• Jared Caddell of Como, a graduate of Como Pickton High School and son of Jerry Caddell.  Caddell plans to attend Texas A&M University-Commerce and major in engineering.
• Jessica De Hoyos of San Angelo, a graduate of Lake View High School and daughter of Magdalena Davis.  De Hoyos plans to attend Angelo State University and major in computer science.
• Hai Dinh of Katy, a graduate of Mayde Creek High School and daughter of Minh Pham.  Dinh plans to attend the University of Houston and major in dentistry.
• Kristina Garrison of Terrell, a graduate of Terrell High School and daughter of Lora Garrison.  Garrison plans to attend the University of Texas at Arlington and major in biology.
• Joel Garza Jr. of Rio Grande City, a graduate of Roma High School and son of Joel Garza. Garza plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin and major in chemistry.
• Darcy Hair of San Angelo, a graduate of Central High School and daughter of Colleen Hair.  Hair plans to attend Angelo State University and major in education.
• Matthew Hejl of San Angelo, a graduate of Wall High School and son of Judy Hejl.  Hejl plans to attend San Angelo State University and major in communications.
• Alexis Hunter of Lewisville, a graduate of Lewisville High School and daughter of Sansulan Pine.  Lawson plans to attend the University of Oklahoma and major in medicine.
• Christina King of Wylie, a graduate of Wylie High School and daughter of Diana King.  King plans to attend Texas A&M University and major in biomedical science.
• Briley Leggett of San Angelo, a graduate of Wall High School and daughter of Mary Lewis.  Leggett plans to attend Texas A&M University and major in poultry science.
• Michael Markham of San Angelo, a graduate of Central High School and son of Thomas Guthrie.  Markham plans to attend Angelo State University and major in medicine.
• Samantha Martinez of San Antonio, a graduate of Douglas MacArthur High School and daughter of Robert Torres.  Martinez plans to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio and major in journalism.
• Phillip Morrow of Denton, a graduate of Billy Ryan High School and son of Phillip Morrow.  Morrow plans to attend Texas A&M University and major in architecture.
• John Payne of Ozona, a graduate of Ozona High School and son of Leticia Payne.  Payne plans to attend Angelo State University and major in education.
• Troy Peoples of Duncanville, a graduate of Duncanville High School and son of Damita Peoples.  Peoples plans to attend the University of Houston and major in archaeology.
• Amanda Pullen of Denton, a graduate of John H. Guyer High School and daughter of Cathy Pullen.  Pullen plans to attend the University of North Texas and major in psychology.
• Kristin Ranard of San Angelo, a graduate of Central High School and daughter of Kelly Ranard.  Ranard plans to attend Angelo State University and major in journalism.
• Michelle Ruiz of San Angelo, a graduate of Lake View High School and daughter of Willie Ruiz.  Ruiz plans to attend Angelo State University and major in education.
• Jessica Rush of Sachse, a graduate of Garland High School and daughter of Johnny Rush.  Rush plans to attend Texas Tech University and major in journalism.
• Mariam Sattar of Sugar Land, a graduate of DeBakey High School for Health Professionals and daughter of Bilal Sattar.  Sattar plans to attend the University of Houston and major in pre-medicine.
• Samuel Turner of Jacksboro, a graduate of Jacksboro High School and son of Deanna Gilbert.  Turner plans to attend Tarleton State University and major in business.
• Ashley Walker of Houston, a graduate of Elsik High School and daughter of Shirron Walker.  Walker plans to attend the University of Oklahoma and major in medicine.
• Kiara Warfield of Dallas, a graduate of Plano East Senior High School and daughter of India Warfield.  Warfield plans to attend Sam Houston State University and major in accounting.
• Kerry West of Canton, a graduate of Canton High School and daughter of David West.  West plans to attend Dallas Baptist University and major in music business.

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.

"Verizon's long-standing commitment to developing a skilled work force begins at home, with the children of our employees," said Steve Banta, Verizon Southwest region president.  "Verizon proudly supports and congratulates these students and realizes 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 also have 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.

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