Black History Month Essay Contest for College Scholarships

High School Seniors to Address How Wireless Technology Has Changed the World We Live In for a Chance to Win Scholarships Up To $5,000

LAUREL, Md., Feb. 11 - Verizon Wireless partners with UNCF to offer 25 college scholarships
-- Awards include scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 and Verizon
Wireless products
-- High School seniors will write essay on how wireless technology has
changed the world
-- Partnership is another in list of Verizon's award-winning educational
and diversity programs


In honor of Black History Month, Verizon Wireless and UNCF -- the United Negro College Fund -- are offering high school seniors the chance to win one of 25 scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, plus Verizon Wireless devices. To qualify for the contest, students must maintain a grade point average of 2.0, plan to attend a four-year accredited college or university in the Fall of 2010, and reside in: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Washington, DC.

"It is imperative students interested in challenging and improving themselves through higher education get the support they deserve," said Mike Maiorana, president of Verizon Wireless' Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia Region. "Diversity and ongoing education have always been pillars of the Verizon Wireless culture, so we're very proud to partner with the UNCF to create these scholarships and help highly-motivated students prepare for the road ahead."

The Verizon Wireless/UNCF Black History Month Essay Contest asks eligible high school seniors to write an essay of no more than 500 words that addresses how the evolution of wireless technology has changed the world in which we live. UNCF will review all the applications and score the essays, and the top 5 applicants per region will be awarded the following scholarships:

-- First Place: $5,000 scholarship, netbook, Motorola Droid and $2,250 in
Verizon Wireless gift cards;
-- Second Place: $4,000 scholarship, netbook, Motorola Droid and $2,250
in Verizon Wireless gift cards;
-- Third Place: $3,000 scholarship, netbook, Motorola Droid and $2,250 in
Verizon Wireless gift cards;
-- Fourth Place: $2,500 scholarship, Motorola Droid and $1,550 in Verizon
Wireless gift cards;
-- Fifth Place: $2,500 scholarship, Motorola Droid and $1,450 in Verizon
Wireless gift cards.


"The 21st century economy runs on technology," said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF President and CEO. "This contest is a great incentive for students to think about how that affects all our lives and to compete for help in paying for their college education. We thank Verizon Wireless for their ongoing support of UNCF and the aspiring young leaders who depend on UNCF for help in getting the education they need and our nation needs them to have."

This Black History Month Essay Contest is one of a variety of educational and diversity programs supported by Verizon Wireless. With a diverse workforce of 87,000, Verizon Wireless drives workplace diversity by establishing programs to encourage the hiring and advancement of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.

Students are encouraged to visit http://www.uncf.org/ for complete details of the essay contest and to apply online. The application deadline is April 15, 2010. For more information, contact UNCF Program Services at (703) 205-3400 or scholarships@uncf.org.