Essay contest offers scholarship

Orangeburg — In honor of Black History Month, Verizon Wireless and UNCF — the United Negro College Fund — are offering high school seniors the chance to win one of 25 scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, plus Verizon Wireless devices. To qualify for the contest, students must maintain a grade point average of 2.0, plan to attend a four-year accredited college or university in the fall of 2010, and reside in: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Washington, DC. The Verizon Wireless/UNCF Black History Month Essay Contest asks eligible high school seniors to write an essay of no more than 500 words that addresses how the evolution of wireless technology has changed the world in which we live. UNCF will review all the applications and score the essays, and the top five applicants per region will be awarded the following scholarships: First Place: $5,000 scholarship, netbook, Motorola Droid and $2,250 in Verizon Wireless gift cards Second Place: $4,000 scholarship, netbook, Motorola Droid and $2,250 in Verizon Wireless gift cards Third Place: $3,000 scholarship, netbook, Motorola Droid and $2,250 in Verizon Wireless gift cards Fourth Place: $2,500 scholarship, Motorola Droid and $1,550 in Verizon Wireless gift cards Fifth Place: $2,500 scholarship, Motorola Droid and $1,450 in Verizon Wireless gift cards Students are encouraged to visit www.UNCF.org for complete details of the essay contest and to apply online. The application deadline is April 15. For more information, contact UNCF Program Services at 703-205-3400 or scholarships@uncf.org.