Two Wisconsin Students Win Verizon Foundation Scholarships

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. - Two Wisconsin students have won college scholarships from Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. The scholarships are $5,000 per year, renewable for three years, for a maximum award of $20,000.

Lucas Malson, DeForest, and Jennifer Zimmermann, Fond du Lac, are the Wisconsin winners. They are among 260 students nationwide who received a scholarship this year through the company's program for employees' children.

Malson, son of Keith and Lynn Malson, is a graduate of DeForest High School. He is pursuing a degree in business at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. His father is a specialist-system analysis and programming for Verizon at Sun Prairie.

Zimmermann, daughter of Rolf and Barbara Zimmermann, is a graduate of Fond du Lac High School. She is pursuing a degree in theater at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her father is a customer zone technician II for Verizon at Eden.

Verizon annually awards scholarships to the children of employees as part of the company's commitment to work force development, one of Verizon Foundation's core funding priorities. This fall, a total of 1,025 students who received scholarships through the company program will hit the books at colleges and universities nationwide.

"Verizon's long-standing commitment to invest in the development of a skilled work force starts with the children of our employees," said Lou Ann Novak, Verizon Foundation representative. "We congratulate our scholarship winners and wish them success in the coming years."

Verizon Foundation awarded the scholarships in partnership with Scholarship America, a nonprofit, private sector scholarship and educational support organization.

In 2003, the foundation awarded more than 21,000 grants totaling about $70 million to charitable and nonprofit agencies that focus on improving basic and computer literacy, enriching communities through technology, and creating a skilled work force. The foundation uses its resources in the United States and abroad to develop partnerships in technology and connect them with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and the economically and socially disadvantaged.

Verizon Communications

A Dow 30 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $68 billion in annual revenues. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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