Verizon Wireless and UNCF Announce New York Metro Region Winners of Black History Month Essay Contest

ORANGEBURG, N.Y., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, provider of the nation's largest and most reliable 3G network, and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), today announced the New York Metro region winners of The Verizon Wireless/UNCF Black History Month Essay Contest. The contest, which required high school seniors to submit an essay of no more than 500 words on the topic of how wireless technology has changed the world in which we live, provides the winners with college scholarship money, as well as Verizon Wireless devices and gift cards.

UNCF reviewed all submissions and selected five winners in the New York Metro region, with first place being awarded to Nicole Thompson of Newark, New Jersey.  Nicole will receive a $5,000 college scholarship, an HP Mini 311 Netbook, a DROID by Motorola smartphone and $2,250 in Verizon Wireless gift cards. Other winners in the New York Metro region include:

• Second Place – Christopher Gooding from the Bronx, New York:  $4,000 college scholarship, HP Mini 311 Netbook, DROID by Motorola smartphone and $2,250 in Verizon Wireless gift cards.
• Third Place – Asia McCleary-Gaddy from Staten Island, New York:  $3,000 college scholarship, HP Mini 311 Netbook, DROID by Motorola smartphone and $2,250 in Verizon Wireless gift cards.
• Fourth Place – Jason Chaves from Northport, New York: $2,500 college scholarship, DROID by Motorola smartphone and $1,550 in company gift cards.
• Fifth Place – Shamm Petros from Irvington, New Jersey:  $2,500 college scholarship, DROID by Motorola smartphone and $1,450 in company gift cards.

"The 21st century economy runs on technology," said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF President and CEO.  "It has changed the way we live and the way we work.  Verizon Wireless' support for the Verizon Wireless/UNCF Black History Month Essay Contest will help these aspiring young  leaders get the education they need, and that our nation needs them to have, in order to compete in a global economy."

"We are proud of all the highly talented students who took the time to submit an essay for the Black History Month contest," said Pat Devlin, president, Verizon Wireless, New York Metro Region.  "Our winners demonstrated an advanced understanding of the role technology plays in our world and how its evolution will continue to shape the future.  We're honored to provide these students with scholarships and devices that will help them further their education at leading four-year colleges."

To qualify for the contest, students had to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0, plan to attend a four-year accredited college or university in the Fall of 2010, and reside in one of the following states: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Washington, DC.  

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 over 81,000, Verizon Wireless drives workplace diversity by establishing programs to encourage the hiring and advancement of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.

For more information on Verizon Wireless, please visit www.verizonwireless.com or call 1-800-2-JOIN IN. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VzW_NYMetro and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VerizonWirelessNY.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving nearly 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 81,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: 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