Bell Atlantic Awards Education Connections Scholarship To Charleston Catholic High Student

Bell Atlantic Awards Education Connections Scholarship To Charleston Catholic High Student

June 3, 1997

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A Charleston Catholic High School senior has won a
four-year scholarship from Bell Atlantic-West Virginia, Inc. as part
of its Education Connections program, which was created especially for
children of Bell Atlantic employees working in West Virginia.

Kaitlin Lane Hillenbrand, daughter of Edward and Connie Hillenbrand,
will receive $2,000 a year for four years toward college expenses,
according to Sam Cipoletti, Bell Atlantic manager-government relations
and external affairs.

In addition to Hillenbrand, Bell Atlantic awarded Education
Connections scholarships to Robert Douglas Falck from Wheeling Park
High School; Natalie Ann Hale from Logan High School, and Justin
Michael Lawrence from South Harrison High School in Lost Creek. Seven
other students received one-time, $500 stipends to offset college
expenses.

"We're proud of these scholars' achievements, and we're pleased that
our Education Connections program will help them reach their academic
goals as they enter college," said Cipoletti. "Bell Atlantic has a
strong record of providing support to education in West Virginia, and
Education Connections continues to be a key component in our overall
education support program. It's also one of the most gratifying for
our company and employees."

Hillenbrand finished fourth in her class of 44 at Charleston Catholic,
with a 4.306 cumulative grade point average. A member of several
organizations and clubs, Hillenbrand has participated in many
community service projects during her high school years.

Criteria used in determining this year's winners included overall
grade point average [GPA], combined GPA in science, mathematics,
English and social studies; a student's academic ranking in high
school; American College Testing Program [ACT] composite scores and
leadership in extra-curricular activities. In addition, applicants
were required to write an essay about how technology will impact
graduation requirements and students' knowledge upon graduation.

Judges for this year's Education Connections program were Dr. John
Carrier, president of the West Virginia Institute of Technology in
Montgomery; Dr. Travis Kirkland, president of Southern West Virginia
Community and Technical College, and Dr. Robert Moore, president of
Bluefield State College.

Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company's telephone company subsidiaries are
the premier providers of local telecommunications and advanced
services. Globally, it is one of the largest investors in the
high-growth wireless communication marketplace. Bell Atlantic also
owns a substantial interest in Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and
is actively developing high-growth national and international business
opportunities in all phases of the industry.