RICHMOND, Va., May 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Comcast Foundation, founded in 1999 to provide charitable support to its local communities and to empower and enrich lives, is awarding 57 Virginia high school seniors scholarships through its annualLeaders and Achievers^®Scholarship Program.  The program, one of the Comcast Foundation's signature community investment initiatives, recognizes students' leadership skills, academic achievement and commitment to community service.

Comcast, joined by Virginia Secretary of Education Laura Fornash and other officials, recognized the students at a special event held yesterday at the State Capitol in Richmond.  Fifty-six of the 2013 Virginia Leaders and Achievers recipients received $1,000 scholarships. In addition, Alseny Diawara of Wakefield High School in Arlington was awarded a $10,000 Comcast Founders Scholarship - instituted in honor of Ralph J. Roberts, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Comcast Corporation - for a total of $66,000 awarded this year to Virginia high school seniors.  After a prize drawing, two students were also given iPads to use at college.

"I thank Comcast for its commitment to helping students across the Commonwealth to succeed in the classroom and prepare for the future," said Fornash. "These students should be very proud of their accomplishments."

"Comcast is dedicated to providing opportunities for young people to build the skills needed to excel in a highly competitive, technology-driven workforce," said Tom Coughlin, regional senior vice president for Comcast. "We are pleased to recognize these students for their achievements, and commend them for the leadership role they play in their schools and communities."

The Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program provides one-time $1,000 scholarships to students who strive to achieve their potential, who are catalysts for positive change in their communities, who are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students.  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 the program's inception, more than $17.7 million in scholarship money has been presented to more than 17,000 scholarship winners nationwide.

2013 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Winners from Virginia
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS (by County or Independent City where the high school is located):

Albemarle County
Brandie Quarlesof Western Albemarle High School

Alexandria
Mehma Chugani of T.C. Williams High School
Bridget Thompsonof St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School

Arlington
Ford Avery of Washington-Lee High School
Alseny Diawaraof Wakefield High School
Jennifer Freyof H-B Woodlawn High School
Osmar Trejoof Arlington Mill High School Continuation Program

Campbell County
Jessica Wilsonof Brookville High School

Caroline County
Jazmine Shawof Caroline High School

Charles City County
Kayla Oteyof Charles City High School

Charlottesville
Jamar Pierre-Louisof Charlottesville High School

Chesterfield County
Scott Campolongoof Monacan High School
Danielle Ebelle of Meadowbrook High School
Brent Frostof Matoaca High School
Skye Hagoodof Thomas Dale High School
Jordan Hollandof Holland Home School
Ebonee Valdiriof Lloyd C. Bird High School

Colonial Heights
Thompson Roweof Colonial Heights High School

Danville
Deana Forbesof George Washington High School
Cecilia Yeagerof Galileo Magnet High School

Dinwiddie County
Cassandra Casasof Dinwiddie High School

Greensville County
Amber Ellisof Greensville County High School

Henrico County
Selmira Avdicof Douglas S. Freeman High School
Caitlin Daughtryof Mills E. Godwin High School
Ashley Edwardsof Hermitage High School
Chanel Jamesof Highland Springs High School
Jessica Leeof J.R. Tucker High School
Despina Masonof Varina High School
Joseph Edward Realof Henrico High School

Loudoun County
Erin Donavanof Stone Bridge High School
Jeffrey Hembyof Woodgrove High School
Amani Kirkof Potomac Falls High School
McKinna Paceof Briar Woods High School
Karol Rodriguezof Broad Run High School

Madison County
Alexis Smithof Madison County High School

Manassas Park
Paula-Bianca Cruzof Manassas Park High School

Montgomery County
Jessica Vanceof Blacksburg High School

Petersburg
Quanesha Knightof Petersburg High School

Prince George County
Justice Evansof Prince George High School

Prince William County
Sarai Arbusof Battlefield High School
Andrew Millerof Stonewall Jackson High School
Oluwatoni Ojomo of Potomac High School
Olivia Smithof Osbourn High School

Richmond
Chloe Burchof Thomas Jefferson High School
Logan Harrisof St. Catherine's School
Anna Jacksonof Saint Gertrude High School
Aleisha Jonesof Armstrong High School
James McVeyof St. Christopher's School
Chyann Mealyof Franklin Military Academy
David Wilsonof Grove Avenue Baptist Christian School
John Zieglerof Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies 

Salem
Kristin Calilungof Salem High School

Smyth County
Joshua Dolingerof Chilhowie High School

Spotsylvania County
Emilie Hillof Massaponax High School
McKenzie Livesayof Riverbend High School

Sussex County
Edward Artisof Sussex Central High School

Winchester
Rebecca Ramdassof John Handley High School

About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal.  Comcast Cable is the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses.  NBCUniversal operates 30 news and entertainment cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts.  Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

About the Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—promoting service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow's leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $123 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.

SOURCE Comcast