Verizon Wireless and UNCF Announce Black History Month Essay Contest for College Scholarships

- 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

ORANGEBURG, N.J., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 Pat Devlin, president of Verizon Wireless' NY Metro 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 March 15, 2010.  For more information, contact UNCF Program Services at (703) 205-3400 or [email protected].

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (Nasdaq and LSE: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About UNCF

UNCF -- the United Negro College Fund -- is the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 39 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 18 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."® Learn more at www.UNCF.org.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless