Education Celebrated at State Capitol as Comcast Awards $210,000 in College Scholarships to 190 California High School Seniors

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

NOTE:  Downloadable B-Roll footage of Comcast's education event will be available after 2:30 p.m. (PT) on Wednesday afternoon, June 15th, at this link http://comcastcalifornia.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=98.

While discussions of California’s budget problems and educational cuts were being debated inside the California State Capitol today, Comcast joined with more than 400 students and their families in a celebration of education on the steps of the building.  Comcast announced the 190 California high school seniors who have won a 2011 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship, and then partnered with representatives of state legislators to present each student attendee with their individual $1,000 grant.  Twenty of the winning students were also given a personal notebook computer to use at college, and Comcast distributed two additional $10,000 scholarships for a total of $210,000 in grants awarded at the special recognition ceremony.

In addition to their $1,000 scholarships, Axia Vang from Liberty High School in Madera and Jimmy Ramirez from Freedom High School in Oakley each won Comcast Founders Scholarships of $10,000 -- instituted in honor of Ralph J. Roberts, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Comcast Corporation.  Axia Vang will be attending Fresno State University to study Medicine, while Jimmy Ramirez will study Political Science at Georgetown University.

The students and their families also received a tour of the State Capitol and complimentary admission to the California Museum.  For a complete list of California’s 2011 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship recipients, visit: http://comcastcalifornia.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=458.

"Comcast is proud to acknowledge the accomplishment and potential of such outstanding student leaders, all of whom are preparing for the next step in their educational careers," said Curt Henninger, Regional Senior Vice President, Comcast – California.  "The willingness of these students to play a leadership role in their communities, coupled with their academic achievement, has already put them on the path to success."

Each student who attended the celebration of education at the capitol received their $1,000 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship from their local legislators or Comcast executives, and then had a group photo taken with representatives of the legislators from the districts where scholarship winners live.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, the 20 winners of the notebook computers and the two winners of the $10,000 Comcast Founders Scholarships were announced.

About the Comcast "Leaders And Achiever's® Scholarship Program"

This year in California, Comcast is recognizing 190 young people with scholarships -- for a total of $190,000 in grants — as part of Comcast's 2011 national Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program.  Each student receives a one-time $1,000 grant.

The Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program, one of the Comcast Foundation's signature community investment programs, recognizes high school seniors for their leadership skills, positive attitude, academic achievement and various community service activities including mentoring and tutoring younger students, volunteering at hospitals and participating in relief efforts.  The philosophy behind the program is to give young people every opportunity to be prepared for the future, to engage youth in their communities, and to demonstrate the importance of civic involvement, and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.

Since 2001, the program has recognized more than 15,000 students around the country—and given away more than $15.4 million in scholarship grants.

Each year, Comcast works with high school principals, guidance counselors and school administrators to select the scholarship recipients.  The Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program is managed by Scholarship Program Administrators—an independent, not-for-profit organization that manages corporate and corporate foundation scholarship programs. For more information on the Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program, visit www.comcast.com/inthecommunity.

2011 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Winners from California

(by county and then by city where high school is located)

Alameda County

• Albany- Portia Kane-Abdullah of Albany High School
• Albany- Phobe Trout of MacGregor High School
• Berkeley- Natassija Jordan-Oliver of California College Preparatory Academy
• Dublin- Michelle Lee of Dublin High School
• Fremont- Carmen Chan of Kennedy High School
• Fremont-  Megan McLaughlin of Mission San Jose High School
• Fremont- Rajeswari Ramanathan of Irvington High School
• Hayward- Alexander Bemiss of Moreau Catholic High School
• Hayward- Julie Grant of Impact Academy
• Hayward- Vishal Kapadia of Tennyson High School
• Hayward- Alise Smith of Hayward High School
• Livermore-  Steven Lesky of Granada High School
• Livermore- Kathyrn Rambo of Livermore High School
• Oakland- Veronica Arelano of Lighthouse Community Charter High School
• Oakland- Wiltyn Hoang of Skyline High School
• Oakland- Devareaux Manley of Castlemont Leadership Preparatory High School
• Oakland- Daysi Nemecio of American Indian Public High School
• Oakland- Milan Scott of Oakland Military Institute  College Prep Academy
• Oakland- Irlenis Torres of Oakland Charter High School
• Oakland- Yoanna Ventura of Aspire Millsmont Academy
• Pleasanton-  Lindsay Ford of Amador Valley High School
• Pleasanton-  Benjamin Krebs of Foothill High School
• San Leandro- Rachel Ong of Chinese Christian Schools
• Union City- Janet Leung of James Logan High School

Butte County

• Durham-  Peter Konyn of Durham High School
• Oroville- Kue Chang of Oroville High School
• Oroville- Michael Giordano of Las Plumas High School
• Paradise- Lauryn Gregorio of Paradise Senior High School

Colusa County

• Maxwell- Kendal Vierra of Maxwell High School

Contra Costa County

• Brentwood- Edlyn Luichie Cotas of Heritage High School
• Concord- Edward Estrada of De La Salle High School
• Concord-  Miranda Lutz of Clayton Valley High School
• Concord- Teresa Perez of Crossroads High School
• Crockett- Charles Williams of Willow High School
• Danville- Christopher Riley of San Ramon Valley High
• El Sobrante- Lovepreet Kaur of El Sobrante Christian High School
• Oakley- Jimmy Ramirez of Freedom High School
• Orinda- Joseph Sweiss of Miramonte High School
• Pleasant Hill- Heather Dale of Horizons School
• Pleasant Hill- Jamin Rodriguez of Prospect High School
• San Ramon- Evan Bell of Dougherty High School
• San Ramon- Evan O'Dorney of Venture Independent Study
• Walnut Creek-  Jonathan Lim of Berean Christian High School

El Dorado County

• El Dorado- Daniel DeRosa of Union Mine High School
• El Dorado Hills- Taja Davis of Oak Ridge High School
• Placerville- Madalyn Hemingsen of El Dorado High School
• Shingle Springs- Samantha Rains of Ponderosa High School

Fresno County

• Clovis- Jillian Bertolucci of Clovis North High School
• Clovis- Oshea Carter of Clovis East High School
• Clovis- Josephine Doo of Buchanan High School
• Clovis- Kelsy Mott of Clovis High School
• Fresno- Jasmine Castro of Design Science Early College High School
• Fresno- Ariel Garnica of Sierra Charter School
• Fresno- Dulce Guerrero of Roosevelt High School
• Reedley- Brett Parichan of Reedley High School
• Reedley- Marisa Statton of Immanuel Schools

Glenn County

• Orland- Janice Thor of Orland High School

Kings County

• Hanford- Mallory Ehlers of Hanford High School

Madera County

• Chowchilla- Rebecka Serpa of Chowchilla High School
• Madera- Stephanie Jauregui of Madera High School
• Madera- Axia Vang of Liberty High School

Marin County

• Larkspur- Madison Kime of Redwood High School
• Novato- Mary Welter of San Marin High School
• San Anselmo- Nikita Romanzov  of San Domenico High School
• San Rafael- Elizabeth Cho of San Rafael High School
• San Rafael- Kingsley Leung of Terra Linda High School
• Sausalito- Derrick Ly of The Marin School

Merced County

• Atwater-  Nicolette Schiber of Atwater High School
• Atwater- Cheyanne Young of Buhach Colony High School
• Livingston- Kisha McGuire of Livingston High School
• Merced- Anna Almario of Stone Ridge Christian High School
• Merced- Katie Donnell of Golden Valley High School
• Merced- Laura Gray of Merced High School

Monterey County

• Carmel- Katherine Congleton of Carmel High School
• Monterey- Kristen Flathers of Santa Catalina School
• Monterey- Tio Lamiot of York School
• Salinas- Ginger Faye Mina of Everett Alvarez High School
• Salinas- Jennifer Silva of Alisal High School

Napa County

• Napa- Gabriella Salva of Justin-Siena High School

Nevada County

• Grass Valley- Ishan Hill of Ghidotti High
• Grass Valley- Claire Newman of Bear River High School
• Grass Valley- Mark Valentine of Nevada Union High School
• Penn Valley- Rachel Frantz of Vantage Point Charter

Placer County

• Roseville- Micky DeFiebre of Valley Christian Academy
• Roseville- Jake Haakenson of Woodcreek High School

Sacramento County

• Carmichael- Veronica Tello of Visions in Education
• Citrus Heights- Logan Day of New San Juan High School
• Elk Grove- Carisse Platt of Pleasant Grove High School
• Elk Grove- Claire Elizabeth of Laguna Creek High School
• Fair Oaks- Conner Quinn of Bella Vista High School
• Folsom- Jennifer Arbaugh of Vista del Lago High School
• Folsom-  Disha Chaubey of Folsom High School
• Galt- Christine Schmidt of Galt Joint Union High School
• North Highlands- Eduard Litvinov of Highlands High School
• North Highlands- Alla Polyakov of Futures High School
• Rancho Cordova- Ashley Stidham of Cordova High School
• Sacramento-  Danyelle Mitchell of Rosemont High School
• Sacramento- Susan Saeteurn of Hiram W. Johnson High School - West Campus
• Sacramento-  Alexis Smith of Sacramento Charter High School
• Sacramento- Taylor Whited of Capital Christian School

San Francisco County

• San Francisco- Anthony Bonilla of Phillip and Sala Burton Academic High
• San Francisco- Rene Cardiel of Archbishop Riordan High School
• San Francisco- Wanarsa Chantara of Balboa High School
• San Francisco- Simone Gannage of Lycee Francais La Perouse
• San Francisco- Margaret Hardy of Lick-Wilmerding High School
• San Francisco- Diane Lee of Galileo High School
• San Francisco- Chloe Lessard of Mercy High School
• San Francisco- Fiona Mischel of San Francisco Waldorf High School

San Joaquin County

• Linden- Catharine Knapp  of Linden High School
• Lodi- Alexander Bluhm of Tokay High School
• Lodi- Isabel Rangel of Lodi High School
• Lodi- Grace Romstad Lodi Academy
• Manteca- Joseph Brandi of Manteca High School
• Manteca- Tonya Towner of Sierra High School
• Stockton- Armir Camangian of Bear Creek High School
• Stockton- Samantha Martinez of Ronald E. McNair High School
• Stockton- Gabrielle Reyes of Lincoln High School
• Tracy- Brittny Davis of Merrill F. West High School

San Mateo County

• Atherton- Sean Higgins of Menlo-Atherton High School
• Atherton- Nancy Orocio of Sacred Heart Preparatory
• Burlingame- Matthew Thompson of Burlingame High School
• Daly City- Kalani Sanders of Westmoor High School
• East Palo Alto-  Roshana Smith- Eastside College Preparatory School
• Millbrae- Matthew Shen of Mills High School
• Pacifica- Matthew Philpott of Alma Heights Christian Academy
• San Bruno- Chizoba Ibeanusi of Capuchino High School
• San Mateo- Thomas Barri of Junipero Serra High School
• San Mateo- Hannah Chu of Alpha Beacon Christian School
• San Mateo- Mariko Kuga of Hillsdale High School
• San Mateo- Catherine Parmele of San Mateo High School
• San Mateo- Amrit Saxena of Aragon High School
• South San Francisco- Kevin Madrigal of El Camino High School

Santa Barbara County

• Lompoc- Hunter  Reardon of Cabrillo High School
• Santa Maria- Katherine Brown of Pioneer Valley High School
• Santa Maria- Griffin Hall of Santa Maria High School
• Santa Maria- Tatianna Kufferath of Ernest Righetti High School
• Santa Ynez- Nicholas Kennedy of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School

Santa Clara County

• Cupertino-  Daniel Ki of Monta Vista High School
• Cupertino- Vanni Mulkareddy of Cupertino High School
• Los Altos- Tyler Stout of Los Altos High School
• Palo Alto- Grace Chen of Castelleja High School
• San Jose- Samya Abdela of silver Creek High School
• San Jose- Natalie Audelo of Presentation High School
• San Jose- Nick Ben of Gunderson High School
• San Jose- John Castle of Bellarmine College Preparatory School
• San Jose- Keziah Dauz of Overfelt High School
• San Jose- Tara Deasy of Oak Grove High School
• San Jose- Megan Gage of Evergreen Valley High School
• San Jose- Conner Gorman of Archbishop Mitty High School
• San Jose- Iris Hernandez of Pegasus High School
• San Jose- Tina Huang of Independence High School
• San Jose- MyMy Nguyen of Piedmont Hills High School
• San Jose- Mitzen San Juan of Downtown College Prep
• San Jose- Anthony Santilli of Leigh High School
• San Jose- Karina Soto of Mt. Pleasant High School
• San Jose- Nicholas Taxera of Del Mar High School
• Santa Clara – Sean Oswald of Santa Clara High School
• Saratoga- Jaemyeong Lee of Saratoga High School
• Sunnyvale- David Bruce of The Kings Academy
• Sunnyvale- Thaibinh Lai-Nguyen of Fremont High School

Santa Cruz County

• Felton- Nathon Wood of San Lorenzo Valley High School
• Santa Cruz- Damon Kamamoto of Pacific Collegiate Charter
• Scotts Valley- Alyson Bothman of Scotts Valley High School

Solano County

• Vacaville- Elizabeth Fazzare of Vacaville High School
• Vacaville- Wesley LaRowe of Buckingham Charter Magnet High School
• Vallejo- Ahy Khine of St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School

Sonoma County

• Cloverdale-  Austin Schmidt of Cloverdale High School
• Forestville- Elizabeth Fox of El Molino High School
• Petaluma- Suzanne McNamara of Casa Grande Senior High School
• Petaluma- Laura Smith of Petaluma High School
• Petaluma- Nicole Thompson of St. Vincent High School
• Santa Rosa- Janice Castro of Roseland University Prep
• Santa Rosa-  Bethany Codding of Ursuline High School
• Santa Rosa- Rebecca Hildebrant of Rincon Valley Christian School
• Sonoma- Carlos Velasquez of Archbishop Hanna High School

Stanislaus County

• Modesto- Megan Carley of Thomas Downey High School
• Modesto- Anna Do of Fred C. Beyer High School
• Modesto- Kyle Sharp of Modesto High School
• Newman-  Janae Grieb of Orestimba High School
• Oakdale- Daniel Dunning of Oakdale High School

Sutter County

• Sutter-  Allison Foster of Sutter High School
• Yuba City- Justine Ekdawy of Faith Christian High School

Tehama County

• Corning- Adalia Burrel of Centennial Continuation High School
• Corning- Anna Nelson of Corning High School

Tulare County

• Visalia- Micaela Bonner of Redwood High School
• Visalia- Annalee Bosler of Central Valley Christian High School
• Visalia- Cristina Chavez Duarte of Golden West High School

Tuolumne County

• Tuolumne- Allison Loyd of Summerville High School

Yuba County

• Marysville- Kelsey Cena of Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts
• Olivehurst- Bao Her of Lindhurst High School

About the Comcast Foundation

The Comcast Foundation began in June 1999. Since that time, the Foundation has given more than $77 million to non-profit organizations serving the same communities we serve nationwide. The Foundation has reached nearly 3,000 unique organizations in nearly 2,000 communities.  We provide financial support to organizations that have a strong presence in our communities and match our dedication to expanding digital literacy, promoting community service and building tomorrow's leaders. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/inthecommunity.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.

SOURCE Comcast