DRIVE YOUR FUTURE: The Mercedes-Benz USA Scholarship Program Announces National Winners
Over $460,000 To Be Awarded to College-Bound Students Beginning School This Fall
MONTVALE, N.J., Aug. 19 -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) will award over $460,000 this month to college-bound students or those attending vocational school who are winners of the DRIVE YOUR FUTURE: The Mercedes-Benz USA Scholarship Program. Two hundred thirty students across the United States who are the first in their families to attend college will receive $2,000 scholarships to help off-set tuition and school expenses. Developed by MBUSA, DRIVE YOUR FUTURE is a new initiative designed to respond to a critical nationwide need for scholarships to help students pay for increasing college tuition and help off-set the costs of postsecondary education. MBUSA partnered with Scholarship America, the nation's largest sector scholarship and educational support organization, to administer the program.
"Being a foster child, I am completely on my own to finance my education," said Byron Korf of Yuma, Colorado. "So this award will be a tremendous help. I hope to represent you well and appreciate the trust you have put in me."
"Mercedes-Benz owners are among the most successful in the world and our workforce and dealer body are among the most capable in the industry," said Paul Halata, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. "What this gives us is an opportunity, and a responsibility, to help others get to the starting line -- so that they too can achieve success. Through DRIVE YOUR FUTURE, we are reaching out, lending a hand, and providing opportunities for success to the next generation, particularly to those who face challenges."
Three winners from each state will receive scholarships in addition to students from various youth organizations such as Automotive High School, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, FIRST, Mal Washington Foundation, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, Virtual Enterprises and Young Women's Leadership School. A total of 2,054 graduating seniors nationwide applied for scholarships this year and were evaluated based on academic achievement, financial need, leadership and participation in school and community activities. Honors, work experience, goals and aspirations as well as unusual personal or family circumstances were considered.
Students were invited to apply for scholarships online and through a mailing to U.S. high schools. At least three winners from each state, with the exception of Alaska, will be represented. DRIVE YOUR FUTURE winners will serve as ambassadors of Mercedes-Benz USA Philanthropy by getting involved in volunteer activities in their communities such as mentoring and tutoring younger students.
"This award brings me great honor, as it is one that will be assisting me to be the first in my family to attend college," said Stacey Philliber of Everson, Washington. "Furthering myself in the area of education is of the utmost importance to me and I appreciate the fact that you are giving me the chance to succeed in this goal in my life. I will be giving back to my community through volunteer programs while attending Yale University, serving as a charitable ambassador for Mercedes-Benz USA."
Through the ongoing support of Mercedes-Benz dealers across the country and funds raised during the Mercedes-Benz regional golf championships, the DRIVE YOUR FUTURE fund was increased to allow for more scholarships nationwide. Funds for next year's program are also being raised during the LoveMercedes Tour; a 12-city premier marketing initiative that invites current and potential Mercedes-Benz owners to test drive 2005 models. For every mile driven during the event, MBUSA will donate $1 dollar to the 2005 DRIVE YOUR FUTURE fund for students who reside in LoveMercedes Tour markets.
"You will see great accomplishments from me in the future," said Marisol De Leon of Lake Jackson, Texas. "I plan to continue my work with Teen Court, however I will be searching for a program closer to my university. I'm really looking forward to beginning a new chapter in my life. I feel that college will be a great stepping stone to the future for me."
DRIVE YOUR FUTURE: The Mercedes-Benz USA Scholarship Program is an initiative of MBUSA's philanthropic program which is aimed at educating and empowering future generations. Committed to the communities in which employees live and work, MBUSA has also built alliances with a number of youth organizations across the country. The company also supports many of these efforts through employee activities and volunteer activities. Philanthropic initiatives are reviewed and implemented through MBUSA corporate headquarters in Montvale, N.J. and through its six regional offices around the country. In February 2005, interested students may visit http://www.mbusa.com/drivefuture to download the DRIVE YOUR FUTURE application and program overview.
Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, N.J., is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. In 2003, MBUSA achieved an all-time sales record of 218,717 new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history and achieving ten consecutive years of sales growth. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com/ and http://www.maybachusa.com/.
Scholarship America
Scholarship America has distributed more than $1 billion dollars to nearly one million students, making it the nation's largest private sector scholarship and educational support organization. For the seventh consecutive year, Scholarship America has been ranked of the nation's most efficient nonprofits by SmartMoney and the Wall Street Journal's magazine of personal finance. Since 1958, Scholarship America has been seeking to involve communities, corporations, organizations, and individuals in the support of students through its programs. Visit http://www.scholarshipamerica.org/ for more information.
2004 DRIVE YOUR FUTURE NATIONAL WINNERS State First Name Last Name Home Town College AL Brandy Adams Tarrant University of Alabama in Huntsville AL Megan Baxter Grant University of Alabama in Huntsville AL Whitney Patton Tuscaloosa University of Alabama AR Thea Hill Corning Arkansas State University AR Matthew Hunt Brinkley University of Arkansas AR Rachael Nambusi Little Rock University of Arkansas AZ Isaac Jimenez Nogales Gonzaga University AZ Amber Kapuscinski Quartzsite Arizona State University AZ Delitha Livingston Whiteriver University of Arizona CA Christine Dao Long Beach University of California: Los Angeles CA Nancy Hua Westminster University of California: Los Angeles CA Shirley Leong Castro Valley Johns Hopkins University CA Luke Rankin Rio Linda Grinnell College CA Eloy Villanueva Bakersfield Harvard College CO Byron Korf Yuma Chadron State College CO Gary Linley Colorado Colorado School of Mines Springs CO Brandon Shelstad Colorado Colorado State University: Springs Pueblo CT Sanja Benak New Haven University of Pennsylvania CT Juliette Le Meriden University of Connecticut CT Kunal Patel Brookfield Yale University DC Kendra Brown Washington Ursinus College DC Ta'Shima Oliphant Washington Cheyney University of Pennsylvania DC LaToya Tinsley Washington University of Maryland: Eastern Shore DE Connie Liang Wilmington University of Delaware DE Samantha Price Magnolia York College DE Umsa Uppal Bear University of Delaware FL Miya Cain Miami Yale University FL Jhoeny Gomez Fort Myers University of Florida FL Amber Major Inglis University of Florida GA Keisha Harvey Dawson Albany State University GA Jameela McCoy Riverdale Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University GA Amy Simpson Rossville Kennesaw State University HI Alana Kaholokula Kapaa Whitman College HI Teofilo Samilin Waianae University of Hawaii at Manoa HI Mazie Tsang Honolulu University of Notre Dame IA Sierra Buck Des Moines University of Iowa IA Sean Burton Des Moines Iowa State University IA Samantha Sturm Shenandoah Oklahoma State University ID Brian Elliott Bliss United States Air Force Academy ID Shellie Howell Boise Boise State University ID Rickey Minder Council University of Idaho IL Jamie Bass Bourbonnais De Paul University IL Aileen Long Schaumburg University of Pennsylvania IL Alex Walker Carmi Yale University IN Adam Boocher South Bend University of Notre Dame IN Mishele Hunt Marion Ball State University IN Erin Lehman Laconia Hanover College KS Cynthia Arzola Stafford Fort Hays State University KS Beth Holton Sylvia Hutchinson Community College KS Brittany Small Liberal Sterling College KY Blake Gies Coxs Creek University of Kentucky KY Samaria Mason Louisville Fisk University KY Jettie Powell Benton Campbellsville University LA Shayla Price Thibodaux Xavier University of Louisiana LA Tiffany Taylor New Orleans Howard University LA Arionne Wells New Orleans Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical MA Katie Hudon New Bedford Worcester Polytechnic Institute MA Alexis Ramirez Lynn Boston University MA Anielka Sanchez Springfield Smith College MD Cesar Cartagena Silver Spring University of Chicago MD Brent Cash Glenarden Duke University MD Bobby Truong Owings Mills University of Maryland: College Park ME Shaun Cote Fort Fairfield University of Southern Maine ME Kristin Cyr Van Buren St. Joseph's College ME Alicia Rancourt Waterville Keene State College MI Emilee Engelsman Zeeland Grand Valley State University MI Randal Harris Detroit Xavier University of Louisiana MI Latasha Robinson Detroit University of Michigan MN Fatumo Abdi Minneapolis Minneapolis Community and Technical College MN Andrea Hanzlik Saint Paul University of Wisconsin- River Falls MN Mandy Kuske Goodridge Northland Community & Technical College MO Stephanie Cash Thayer Southwest Missouri State University MO Angela Mareschal Saint Louis University of Tulsa MO Tracy Sambo Saint Louis Washington University in St. Louis MS Alana Buford Yazoo City University of Southern Mississippi MS Claire Cuevas Moss Point University of Mississippi MS Christi Wiltcher Meridian William Carey College MT Douglas Gibbons Dillon University of Washington MT Bryan Hansen Hamilton Western Washington University MT Katie Hoggan Valier Montana State University: Bozeman NC Ashley Allen Dunn Campbell University NC Nicholas Medlin Greensboro University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC John Napoli III Lucama North Carolina State University ND Lisa Benz Dickinson University of North Dakota ND Christina Morin Dunseith Valley City State University ND Mandi Paluck Dickinson Dickinson State University NE Heather Fischer Gretna Dana College NE Katie Fisher Paxton Chadron State College NE Crystal Keller Naper Dakota State University NH Nicholas Johnson Franklin Bentley College NH Courtney Markey Salem Assumption College NH Sara Thibodeau Goffstown University of Denver NJ Erica Brown Mount Holly Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University NJ Janet Lau Egg Harbor New York University Township NJ Vidhi Parikh North Bergen Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey: New Brunswick NM Kenneth Jordan, Jr. Holloman AFB New Mexico State University NM Kimberly Padilla Las Vegas Johnson & Wales University NM LaToya Rush Albuquerque University of Notre Dame NV Tahnee Padilla Henderson University of Nevada: Las Vegas NV Daniel Rocha Pahrump University of Southern California NV Charisse Sy Las Vegas Loyola Marymount University NY Patricia Arena New Windsor Marist College NY Jennifer Bailey Clyde State University of New York at Buffalo NY Alexander Lyndaker Lowville State University of New York at Oswego NY Max Tannone South Rensselaer Polytechnic Kortright Institute OH Jenell Brownlee Mogadore University of Akron OH Shawn O'Neill Vandalia Ohio State University: Columbus Campus OH Amanda Sprunger Dalton Virginia Marti College of Art and Design OK Bethany Dornberger Mannford University of Missouri: Columbia OK Alicia Dudek Oklahoma City Oklahoma State University OK Tyler Wilson Inola Northeastern State University OR Justin Millar Milton Oregon Institute of Freewater Technology OR Sofia Novitskaia Roseburg George Fox University OR Heidi Suhrstedt Roseburg Umpqua Community College PA Jessica Abinosa Sharon Allegheny College PA Eric Hall Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania PA Chad Pugh Central City Carnegie Mellon University PR Yamilet Feliciano Orocovis University of Puerto Rico at Ponce PR Victor Ortiz Coamo University of Puerto Rico: Cayey University College PR Ramon Tavarez Isabela University of Puerto Rico: Mayaguez Campus RI Jacob Acchambault Woonsocket Sacred Heart University RI Amanda Davis Cranston Rhode Island College RI Marissa Madonna Cranston Wheelock College SC Raegan Belk Dillon College of Charleston SC Tomika Dawson Beaufort University of South Carolina SC Cortney Ness York College of Charleston SD Jackie Bohannan Webster North Dakota State University SD Kyle Heer Doland South Dakota State University SD Adam Rudebusch Castlewood Carleton College TN Mariannina DeRosa- Knoxville College of Charleston Morris TN Ross Hoy Burlison University of Tennessee: Knoxville TN Brandon Webb Memphis Tennessee State University TX Al Barrentine Pflugerville New York University TX Samuel Liu Houston University of Texas at Austin TX Krisandra Pope Amarillo Austin College UT Camber Boyter Milford Southern Utah University UT Austin Mayer Milford Southern Utah University UT Danielle Wade Holden Snow College VA Marquetta Brown Norfolk Virginia Commonwealth University VA Christopher Drayton Chesapeake Culinary Institute of America VA Myrisha Lewis Virginia Harvard University Beach VT Faith Belyea Ryegate Eastern Nazarene College VT Meagan Ebare Brownsville Simmons College VT Ashley Smith Chelsea University of Vermont WA Nicole Desgro- Yakima Western Washington sellier University WA Stacey Philliber Everson Yale University WA Shana Straub Renton Whitman College WI Malory Hendrickson Rockland Luther College WI Erin Singkofer Mosinee Bethel College WI Sue Xiong Milwaukee University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee WV Ashley Clay Wayne University of Charleston WV Jade Wheeler Mount Clare Shepherd College WV Robert Williams Seth Georgetown University WY Kellan Holbrook Casper Ripon College WY Jessica Rampelburg Evanston Wichita State University WY Amanda Taylor Evanston University of Utah 2004 DRIVE YOUR FUTURE -- YOUTH ORGANIZATION WINNERS State First Name Last Name Home Town College Youth Organization AR Michael Douglas Van Buren University Boys & Girls Clubs of Arkansas - Fort Smith AR Danielle Scantling Waldron Arkansas Tech FIRST University CA Brittni Chicuata San Macalester Boys & Girls Clubs Francisco College CA Torrey Eckert Escondido Baylor Boys & Girls Clubs University CA Yolanda Mendoza Indio University Boys & Girls Clubs of California: Berkeley CA Joshua Ostini Santa California Boys & Girls Clubs Maria Polytechnic State University: San Luis Obispo CA David Iaea San Diego New York FIRST University CO Brent Goodlet Aurora Colorado FIRST School of Mines DE Rayna Horsey Bridge- University of FIRST ville Delaware FL Franchesca Morris Tampa University of Boys & Girls Clubs South Florida FL Shana Rodriguez Hollywood Methodist Boys & Girls Clubs College FL Jordan Strickland Jackson- Florida Mal Washington ville Community Foundation College at Jacksonville GA Wali Rasheed Snellville Savannah State Boys & Girls Clubs University IA James Brown Cedar University Big Brothers Rapids of Iowa Big Sisters IL Jonathan Wigfall Chicago Morehouse Boys & Girls Clubs College IN Stewart Elkins Mishawaka Ball State Big Brothers University Big Sisters IN Brittany Sharpe Rushville University of Boys & Girls Clubs Southern Indiana IN Tung Ho Indiana- Purdue FIRST polis University KS Aaron Poe Greeley Pittsburg State FIRST University KY Krystal Deel Frankfort Georgetown Big Brothers College Big Sisters MA Michelle Cho Boston George FIRST Washington University MD Lulet Yassin Silver Montgomery Boys & Girls Clubs Spring College: Takoma Park Campus MD Ryan Levin Baltimore University of FIRST Maryland: College Park MI Laura Westrate Holland Hope College FIRST MS Shaquita Sampson Jackson Jackson State FIRST University NC Linhan Nguyen Charlotte University of Big Brothers North Carolina Big Sisters at Chapel Hill NE Amber Shafer Falls City Southeast FIRST Community College: Lincoln Campus NJ Jamie McFarland Rockaway University of Big Brothers Delaware Big Sisters NJ William Carole Millville Rowan FIRST University NJ Amanda Erickson Millville Virginia FIRST Polytechnic Institute and State University NM Jennifer Rodriguez Carlsbad MidAmerica Boys & Girls Clubs Nazarene University NY Raul Chavarria Woodhaven St. Francis Automotive High College School NY Miguel Sanchez Brooklyn Universal Automotive High Technical School Institute NY Jheanell Thompson Brooklyn Long Island Automotive High University: School Brooklyn Campus NY Veronica Walters Brooklyn Florida Automotive High Agricultural School and Mechanical University NY Krystal Vera Bronx State Rush Philanthropic University of Arts Foundation New York College at Buffalo NY Clive Bento Bronx City University Virtual of New York: Enterprises, City College International NY Carmen Caceres Bronx State Virtual University of Enterprises, New York International College at Cortland NY Ying Yu Chen Brooklyn State Virtual University of Enterprises, New York at International Stony Brook NY Jarell Davis Bronx State Virtual University of Enterprises, New York at International Binghamton NY Dilys Dong New York Bentley College Virtual Enterprises, International NY Terry Ann McIntosh Bronx City University Virtual of New York: Enterprises, Borough of International Manhattan Community NY Mei Rong Ouyang Brooklyn Syracuse Virtual University Enterprises, International NY Melissa Palacios Bronx Long Island Virtual University: Enterprises, C. W. Post International Campus NY Sorangel Paulino Bronx Syracuse Virtual University Enterprises, International NY Guo Jing Wu New York Colgate Virtual University Enterprises, International NY LaVawn Anderson New York City University Young Women's of New York Leadership School NY Edie De Los New York State Young Women's Santos University of Leadership School New York College at Buffalo NY Jessica Erazo New York State Young Women's University of Leadership School New York at New Paltz NY Ileana Garcia New York Haverford Young Women's College Leadership School NY Amanda Hernandez New York Iona College Young Women's Leadership School NY Starsha Jordan New York Gettysburg Young Women's College Leadership School NY Nicole Turner New York Lincoln Young Women's University Leadership School OH Brittany Moore Columbus Ohio State Big Brothers University: Big Sisters Columbus Campus OH Krystle O'Brien Girard Bethany College FIRST OH Annamica Ramdeen Cleveland Oberlin College FIRST OK Alisha LeFlore Nowata University Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma OK Katie Peper Chelsea University Boys & Girls Clubs of Tulsa OR Jacinda Mitchell Enter- University FIRST prise of Oregon PA Agatha Lauder Woodland Penn State Big Brothers Dubois Big Sisters PA Jean Muth Du Bois DuBois College Big Brothers Business Big Sisters PA Debra Wolfe Cherry Keystone Big Brothers Tree College Big Sisters PA Heather Shober Ephrata Reading FIRST Hospital Medical Center PA Brian Woodworth Corry Penn State FIRST Erie, The Behrend College TN Jessica Stevens Memphis Tennessee State Big Brothers University Big Sisters TN Jessica Brooks Chatta- Agnes Scott Boys & Girls Clubs nooga College TN William Harris, Memphis Lambuth Boys & Girls Clubs University Jr. TN Ladarius Hollings- Chatta- Tennessee State Boys & Girls Clubs worth nooga University TX Marisol De Leon Lake University Boys & Girls Clubs Jackson of Dallas TX Erika Martinez Fort University of Boys & Girls Clubs Worth Texas at Austin VA Erika Culley Danville Marymount Big Brothers University Big Sisters VA Travis Fisher Pembroke Virginia FIRST Polytechnic Institute and State University VT Jennifer Cushing Williams- Rivier College Boys & Girls Clubs town WI Luis Quinones Oconom- University of FIRST owoc Wisconsin- Madison