Four Indiana General Assembly Interns Awarded $3,000 Scholarships From Verizon

INDIANAPOLIS - Four Indiana students who are currently serving as interns with the Indiana General Assembly have received $3,000 college scholarships from Verizon Communications.

For the past 14 years, Verizon has awarded scholarships to interns in each caucus of the House of Representatives and the state Senate.  Tim Smith, director of operations for Verizon in Indiana, presented scholarships to this year's winners at a recent ceremony at the Statehouse during the legislative session.

"Verizon Communications has a long history of supporting educational initiatives for students in the state of Indiana," said Smith.  "We have a corporate responsibility to promote our citizens' educational well-being and to provide them the tools they need to succeed."

The 2009 Verizon Communications Intern Scholarship winners are:

• Sara Young, from Indianapolis, a senior at Purdue University where she is majoring in organizational communication with minors in English literature and art and design.  She worked for the House Republican Communications Division.

• Kevin Mealy, from Springfield, a senior at Ball State University.  He worked for three House Democrats: Reps. Terry Goodin, Dennie Oxley and Phil Pflum.
• Brittany Kelsay, from Whiteland, a junior at Purdue University where she is majoring in public relations with minors in political science and sociology.  She worked with the Senate Democratic policy analyst.
• John Brett Curry, from Carmel, a junior at Indiana University where he is majoring in finance.  He worked in the office of Republican Sen. Connie Lawson.

Winners of the Verizon Communications Intern Scholarships are selected based on a number of criteria, including nominations by legislators, votes by peers, student self-assessments, staff recommendations and personal essays.

If the intern scholarship winner does not use the $3,000 award within five years, it is donated on the intern's behalf to his or her alma mater.

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 80 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 employs a diverse workforce of nearly 224,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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