SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — Comcast NBCUniversal announced that it has awarded approximately $20,000 in scholarships for the 2017-18 school year to 12 Vermont students as part of its annual Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program. The program, funded by the Comcast Foundation, recognizes the best and brightest high school seniors for their community service, academic performance and leadership skills.  

“Our Leaders and Achievers Scholarship winners exemplify leadership and are committed to academic excellence and community service,” said Dan Glanville, Vice President of Government Affairs and Community Investment for Comcast’s Western New England Region, which includes Vermont. “We are honored to recognize their achievements and excited to support them as they continue their educational journeys.”

Comcast, joined by Governor Phil Scott, House Speaker Mitzi Johnson and a number of local officials, recognized the students at a special event held at the Vermont State House earlier this year.  The twelve recipients each received $1,000 scholarships. One student, Jason Drebber, a resident of Woodstock and student at Woodstock Senior High School, was selected to receive an additional $9,000 Comcast Founders Scholarship - instituted in honor of Ralph J. Roberts, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Comcast Corporation. In total, Comcast awarded $21,000 worth of scholarships in Vermont this year.

“It’s so important to support and encourage Vermont students and provide them with the tools and experiences needed, so they can go on to secure good jobs,” Governor Phil Scott said.  ”I’m committed to prioritizing investments in areas that will grow our economy and give Vermonters greater opportunity, including a Cradle-to-Career education system, and appreciate that Comcast shares a commitment to developing our future leaders and helping them achieve their dreams of higher education.”

The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students who strive to achieve their full 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 prepare for the future and to engage them in their communities. The program also demonstrates the importance of civic involvement and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community. 

Since 2007, Comcast has awarded nearly $200,000 in Leaders & Achievers Scholarships to 145 students in Vermont.  This year, the program will award more than $2 million in scholarships to more than 2,000 students across the country to help them pursue higher education.  Visit http://corporate.comcast.com/news-information/news-feed/recognizing-the-best-and-brightest-nationwide to learn more.

The 12 Vermont students receiving scholarships include:

•  Reia Ashikawa, a resident of Arlington and student at Arlington Memorial High School

•  Brieonna Bassette, a resident of Williamstown and student at Randolph Technical Career Center in Randolph

•  Jason Drebber, a resident of Woodstock and student at Woodstock Senior High School

•  Reilly Duggan, a resident of Proctor and student at Proctor Senior High School

•  Jillian Flanders, a resident of Chittenden and student at Otter Valley Union High School in Brandon

•  Rachel Gervais, a resident of Colchester and student at Colchester High School

•  Danielle Marasa, a resident of Springfield and student at Springfield High School

•  McKenna Montminy, a resident of Morrisville and student at Peoples Academy in Morrisville

•  Lauren Morse, a resident of East Montpelier and student at U-32 High School in Montpelier

•  Brooke Raiche, a resident of West Rutland and student at West Rutland High School

•  Haeli Warren, a resident of South Hero and student at South Burlington High School

•  Meagan Wetherby, a resident of Richford and student at Richford Senior High School •

Source: Comcast Cable