Verizon Employee Group Awards College Scholarships to 13 Deserving Students Across the Country

NEW YORK - Paying for college just got easier for 13 deserving and talented students across the country who have earned college scholarships from the Consortium of Information and Telecommunications Executives (CITE), an African-American employee resource group of Verizon.

Each high school senior will receive between $1,000 and $3,000 toward college expenses. One award - for $3,000 - was given in the name of deceased CITE President Carl R. English.

This year’s recipients are:

Lawrence Murphy of California, who has a 3.17 grade point average and plans to attend California State Polytechnic University and major in aerospace engineering.


Arsenio Jerrod Coston of Florida, who has a 4.4 grade point average (based on a 5.0 scale) and plans to attend Florida State University and major in business.


Kristen Michelle Johnson of Indiana, who has a 3.71 grade point average and plans to attend Purdue University and major in sports medicine and vocal music.


Kristen D. Hill of Maryland, who has a 3.6 grade point average and plans to attend Drexel University and major in public relations and business.


Paul Marvin Williams IV of Washington, D.C., who has a 3.12 grade point average and plans to attend Coppin State University and major in business management.


Dominic Ridgard of Massachusetts, who has a 3.02 grade point average and plans to attend Bowdoin College and major in business.


Gabrielle Terry of New Jersey, who has a 3.86 grade point average and plans to attend Penn State and major in marketing and Spanish.


Alagia Amber Conwell of New York, who has a 3.3 grade point average and plans to attend Oswego University and major in computer science.


Teara Jennings of North Carolina, who has a 3.7 grade point average and plans to attend the University of North Carolina majoring in computer engineering.


Tiffany Channelle Lee of Pennsylvania, who has a 3.97 grade point average and plans to attend Penn State and major in mathematics.


Juston Warren of Texas, who has a 3.7 grade point average and plans to attend Northwood University and major in management information systems.


Kenice Joyne Reed of Virginia, who has a 3.6 grade point average and plans to attend High Point University and major in business administration.


Chantel Auchea Perry of West Virginia, who has a 3.97 grade point average and plans to attend West Virginia University and major in chemical engineering.
CITE selects recipients based on financial need and academic achievement. The scholarships are for high school seniors who plan to attend an accredited four-year institution. Two of the CITE scholarship winners have been offered internships with Verizon.

Since CITE established its scholarship program in June 1988, the organization has awarded more than $1.4 million to over 780 students across the country.

“Education is the key to the high-skill, high-paying jobs of tomorrow,” said CITE President Leona Punzi. “Awarding these scholarships is an investment for a brighter tomorrow for our children, our communities, and our company.”

For more information on CITE, visit www.forcite.org.

CITE, a national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an African-American employee resource group of Verizon, is committed to industry excellence, community service, and personal and professional development. For over two decades, the organization has worked closely with Verizon’s senior leadership team to keep diversity issues at the forefront of the corporation. CITE helps its members understand Verizon’s business strategy and their roles in it. CITE will remain a critical part of Verizon’s future success, strive for the best, and continue its journey of helping others in need.