The Pearson Prize in Higher Education Honors Students across the United States

Pearson Foundation awards scholarships to students dedicated to public service, leadership and commitment to community

WASHINGTON, DC, August 15, 2011 — The Pearson Foundation has awarded the Pearson Prize for Higher Education to 70 students from universities and colleges across the United States. The Pearson Prize honors exemplary students attending four-year institutions and community colleges who have distinguished themselves through public service while completing their post-secondary studies. Among these students, 20 have been recognized as Pearson Prize National Fellows. The announcement was made at the Pearson Student Leadership Summit, held at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.

The Pearson Prize aligns with the Pearson Foundation’s commitment to students, lifelong learning, community service, and leadership, and was created to respond directly to the financial challenges that many students face while pursuing academic goals. The Pearson Prize saw the number of applications double in just one year, including submissions from all 50 states and Washington, DC.

Students who were selected after the preliminary application process were each invited to create a personal video documenting their achievements. Films created by the 20 National Fellows can be viewed at http://www.pearsonfoundation.org/pearsonprize/2011/fellows.html. Photos of the Pearson Prize Fellows can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16376245@N05/sets/72157627179601597/.

The application for next year’s Pearson Prize will be available in early 2012 at http://www.pearsonfoundation.org/pearsonprize/.

“We are honored to recognize a new group of Pearson Prize awardees,” said Pearson Foundation President and CEO Mark Nieker. “Each of the students recognized this year have demonstrated the values and ambitions that promise an exceptional future. The collective work and inspiration of the 2011 National Fellows represents truly motivated young leaders. We are pleased to help them continue to achieve their dreams.”

The 2011 Pearson Prize National Fellows are:

Karim Abouelnaga, Cornell University

Jon Adams, Helena College of Technology of the University of Montana

Bernard Akem, Normandale Community College

Muthuraman Alagappan, Stanford University

Jay-Sheree Allen, The City College of New York

Rachel Binder-Hathaway, University of Maine

Daniel Brannon, Anne Arundel Community College

Colin Carlson, University of Connecticut

Timi Chu, Northwestern University

Melinda Civic, Schenectady County Community College

Cristina Garcia, University of Texas at Dallas

Jarell Green, University of Nevada, Reno

Niharika Jain, Harvard University

Jacob Kerr, Lake City Community College

Amber Koonce, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Onaje LaMont, Broward Community College

Kevin Magana, LaGuardia Community College

Maia Mossé, Stanford University

Caleb Pendleton, University of Texas at San Antonio

Garrett Wright, University of Southern Mississippi

To view the full list of the 2011 Pearson Prize Community Fellows, visit http://pearsonfoundation.org/pearsonprize/2011/community-fellows.html.

About the Pearson Foundation

The Pearson Foundation extends Pearson’s commitment to education by partnering with leading nonprofit, civic and business organizations to provide financial, organizational and publishing assistance across the globe. The foundation aims to make a difference by sponsoring innovative educational programs and extending its educational expertise to help in classrooms and in local communities.

For more information:

Stacey Finkel
Pearson Foundation
703-304-1377
stacey.finkel@pearsonfoundation.org