The Verizon Foundation has donated $20,000
to Stevenson University to provide
need-based scholarships for students studying education. The University’s School
of Education enrolls more than 250 full-time students and offers bachelor’s
degrees in early childhood, elementary, and middle school education.
“We are truly
grateful for Verizon’s support,” said Kevin
J. Manning, Ph.D., President of Stevenson University. “Stevenson is
committed to addressing the teacher shortage and creating a pipeline of future
educators for Maryland’s schools. This gift will help expand access to higher education
for deserving students and allow them to reach their life goals of becoming
teachers.”
Teacher education
has been an integral part of Stevenson’s mission since 1965, when students
first graduated with associate degrees in early childhood education. In 2008, Stevenson became the first higher
education institution in Maryland to establish a teacher preparation program specifically
focused on the middle school years (grades 4-9).In the fall of 2008, the University began
offering an English/Language Arts and Social Studies concentration and a Math
and Science concentration within the program.
“Education is the
key to success and the job opportunities of tomorrow,” said William R. Roberts, Verizon’s Regional President
in Maryland and Washington, D.C. “This grant will help open doors of
opportunity for students who want to learn and teach. Many of these students
struggle financially to stay in school.We’re glad we can make an investment in their future.”
The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic
arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12
education through its free educational Web site, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters
awareness and prevention of domestic violence. In 2008, the Verizon Foundation
awarded more than $68 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and
abroad. It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and
retirees, resulting in an additional $26 million in combined contributions to
nonprofits. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation’s largest employee
volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 3
million hours of community service since 2000. For more information of the
foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.
