Verizon Wireless/UNCF Black History Month contest

UNCF reviewed all submissions and selected three winners in the New York Metro region, with first place being awarded to Danielle Biggs of Kendall Park, New Jersey. Biggs was presented a $5,000 college scholarship, an HP Netbook, and a Motorola DROID X smartphone by Pat Devlin, president of the Verizon Wireless New York Metro Region.

"In recent years, wireless technology has become a much more integral and important part of our society," said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF president and CEO. "This contest is a great opportunity to encourage students to understand how this affects their lives and to compete for scholarships to help pay for their college education. We thank Verizon Wireless for their continued support of UNCF and for investing in our next generation of scientists, teachers, business executives, doctors and lawyers."

"We received an outstanding number of entries into the Verizon Wireless/UNCF Black History Month contest, and were impressed by the participants' sincere appreciation of the role technology plays in their lives and how it will continue to shape their futures," said Pat Devlin, president, Verizon Wireless New York Metro Region. "We're honored to provide Danielle, Omoailue and Uniquia 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 two- or four-year accredited college or university in the Fall of 2011, 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, D.C.

The Black History Month Essay Contest is one of many educational and diversity programs supported by Verizon Wireless. With over 82,000 employees, Verizon Wireless drives workplace diversity by establishing programs to encourage the hiring and advancement of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.

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