Local Students Awarded Comcast Foundation Scholarships

The following is a press release from The Comcast Foundation:

Brookline residents, Alyssa Bickoff and Kathryn Hodgkins were recently awarded $1,000 scholarships in recognition of their dedication to community service, achievement in the classroom and leadership. They are two of 112 Massachusetts graduating seniors receiving scholarships totaling $121,000 state-wide. The awards are funded by Comcast Foundation and are a part of the Leaders and Achievers Scholarship program. Alyssa and Kathryn was also awarded with Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives Citations, officially recognizing their achievements.

Alyssa and Kathryn received their awards and citations during a recent ceremony at the Massachusetts State House. The ceremony was attended by Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray, dozens of legislators, David Cohen, Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation, Steve Hackley, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Greater Boston Region, and Mark Reilly, Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Comcast's Northeast Division along with proud families, teachers and school administrators. During the ceremony the recipients also participated in a raffle for iPods, Red Sox tickets and concert tickets.

“Each year, we are excited to provide scholarships for these talented students,” said Charisse R. Lille, Vice President, Community Investment, Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast Foundation.  “Comcast seeks students who demonstrate leadership abilities in school activities and who reflect a strong commitment to community service.  These students are our future leaders and we hope these scholarships will help to power their dreams for success.”

The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program provides one-time $1,000 scholarships to students who strive to achieve their 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 be prepared for the future, to engage youth in their communities, and to demonstrate the importance of civic involvement, and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.

Local winners throughout Massachusetts have participated in a wide variety of community service activities, such as mentoring and coaching younger students, volunteering at hospitals and participating in local blood, food and clothing drives. 

“Each year, we are excited to award Leaders and Achievers scholarships to talented and deserving students in Massachusetts who demonstrate leadership in school activities and reflect a strong commitment to community service,” said Steve Hackley, Senior Vice President for Comcast’s Greater Boston Region.  “We are proud to recognize the success and potential of such outstanding student leaders, all of whom are preparing for the next step in their educational careers.”

Each year, Comcast works with high school principals, guidance counselors, and school administrators to select the scholarship recipients. The program is managed by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS)—an independent firm that specializes in managing sponsored scholarship programs.For additional information, visit www.comcast.com/scholarships.

The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities.  The Foundation has three community investment priorities — promoting community service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $90 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.